Florida Senate - 2020 SM 1222 By Senator Gruters 23-01784-20 20201222__ 1 Senate Memorial 2 A memorial to the Congress of the United States, 3 urging the federal government to designate certain 4 drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. 5 6 WHEREAS, the border of the United States presents unique 7 challenges and threats to the national security of the country, 8 and 9 WHEREAS, transnational criminal organizations, commonly 10 known as drug cartels, control the majority of the flow of 11 opioids, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine into this country 12 and this state and these groups maintain territorial influence 13 over large regions used for the cultivation, production, 14 importation, and transportation of these illicit drugs, and 15 WHEREAS, drug cartels are also responsible for the 16 proliferation of human trafficking in the United States, 17 particularly in this state, as an integrated part of their drug 18 trafficking operations, and 19 WHEREAS, drug cartels currently conduct operations on 20 United States soil in furtherance of drug trafficking and human 21 trafficking, and 22 WHEREAS, abuse of opioids, including fentanyl, and human 23 trafficking are identified as direct threats to the economy, 24 well-being, and overall vitality of this state and its 25 residents, as well as future generations, and 26 WHEREAS, section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 27 authorizes the United States Secretary of State, in consultation 28 with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to 29 designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization 30 when certain criteria are met, and 31 WHEREAS, drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated 32 foreign terrorist organizations, given that they are foreign in 33 nature, engage in or retain the capability and intent to engage 34 in terrorism, and threaten the security of United States 35 nationals and the national defense, foreign relations, and the 36 economic interests of the United States, NOW, THEREFORE, 37 38 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 39 40 That the Florida Senate, respectfully urges the federal 41 government to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist 42 organizations so that it may use appropriate means to mitigate 43 and, eventually, eliminate their operations. 44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State dispatch 45 copies of this memorial to the President of the United States, 46 the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 47 United States House of Representatives, and each member of the 48 Florida delegation to the United States Congress.