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Republican Lawmaker Unveils Anti-Cartel Funding Bill as Democrats Push Rival Immigration Measure
A Republican congressman has introduced new legislation aimed at providing local law enforcement with federal resources to combat illegal immigration and cartel activity, even as Democrats simultaneously unveiled opposing legislation that would restrict such partnerships.
Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) on Thursday introduced the COPS Anti-Organized Crime and Cartel Enforcement Act of 2025, which would establish a $200 million grant program over four years through the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office.
“My bill gives police departments access to federal COPS grant funding specifically to create specialized units that can take on organized crime, with the training, equipment and personnel they need to dismantle these operations,” Harrigan said.
The legislation would expand permissible uses of COPS funding to include the purchase of drones, ballistic vests, helmets, and other tactical equipment. It would also codify one of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders allowing local law enforcement to purchase tactical vehicles.
To fund the initiative, Harrigan’s proposal would redirect $1.4 billion in COVID-19-era unemployment funding.
“Drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations are operating on American soil with near impunity, and our local law enforcement agencies need the resources to fight back,” Harrigan added.
The North Carolina Republican’s bill emerged the same day that Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), unveiled the PROTECT Act, which takes a markedly different approach to immigration enforcement.
Quigley’s legislation would eliminate the 287(g) provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which currently allows federal agencies to deputize local law enforcement bodies to make their own immigration enforcement decisions.
Quigley argues that when local police take on immigration enforcement duties, it erodes community trust in law enforcement.
“When people believe that if they call 9-1-1, they have a risk of being scooped and taken away, they’re less likely to call, and they’re going to be less safe,” Quigley explained. “I was at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse, talking to advocates. Women were afraid to go in and get the justice they deserved. They were afraid to go get orders of protection to protect them from abusers.”
The Illinois congressman cited reporting by the Chicago Tribune indicating that 911 calls in Latino communities in Chicago decreased by 20% earlier this year. He attributes this decline to fear within immigrant communities about potential immigration consequences when interacting with local authorities.
“I think it’s more likely to create a distrust, just because it’s all-encompassing,” Quigley said of the 287(g) program. “It’s an extraordinary program, but the public can’t distance local law enforcement and ICE, and they’re less likely to have faith and call in any crime.”
The contrasting bills highlight the fundamental disagreement between the two parties on immigration enforcement strategies. Republicans generally favor empowering local law enforcement to assist federal authorities with immigration enforcement, while Democrats often express concern that such cooperation damages community trust and public safety in immigrant communities.
The COPS program currently provides a wide range of federal assistance for specific purposes, such as anti-heroin task forces and active shooter situation preparation. Harrigan’s bill would add organized crime and cartel activity to that list of focus areas.
With lawmakers preparing to leave Washington for the holiday recess, it remains unclear when either bill might receive formal consideration. However, Harrigan emphasized the urgency of equipping local law enforcement to handle criminal organizations.
“We’re talking about the same criminal organizations flooding our streets with fentanyl and fueling violence in our communities, and if we’re serious about securing our communities, we need to give our police the tools to do it,” Harrigan said.
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10 Comments
This debate highlights the stark partisan divide on immigration issues. Both the Republican and Democratic proposals seem to have merit, but it will be important to thoroughly vet them and understand the potential impacts. I hope the lawmakers can find some common ground to address the complex challenges.
It’s encouraging to see efforts to provide local law enforcement with more resources to combat organized crime and cartel activity. But the details will be crucial, especially around oversight and accountability measures.
Immigration reform is a thorny issue that often brings out strong ideological stances. I appreciate that both parties are trying to address the problems, even if their solutions differ. It will be important to carefully weigh the merits and drawbacks of each proposal.
The idea of expanding COPS funding to help local police tackle cartel-related crime seems like a reasonable approach, but the specifics around implementation and oversight will be crucial. Balancing public safety and civil liberties will be a delicate challenge.
Interesting to see the ongoing clash between Republicans and Democrats over immigration policies. Both sides seem to have different priorities and approaches. I’m curious to learn more about the specific bills being proposed and how they aim to address the issues around illegal immigration and cartel activity.
The proposed COPS Anti-Organized Crime and Cartel Enforcement Act sounds like an attempt to give local law enforcement more resources to tackle cartel-related crime. It will be interesting to see how the Democrats’ rival measure compares and if they can find any common ground.
This is a complex and divisive issue that touches on border security, organized crime, and federal-local cooperation. I appreciate that both parties are trying to address the challenges, even if their solutions differ. It will be important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of each proposal.
The idea of expanding COPS funding to allow local police departments to purchase drones, tactical gear, and vehicles could be a useful tool in combating cartel activity. But there may also be concerns around the appropriate use of such equipment and oversight.
Immigration reform has been a longstanding political battleground. It’s good to see lawmakers on both sides trying to find solutions, even if they have different approaches. I’m curious to understand how the two bills would work in practice and whether there’s any room for compromise.
The challenge will be balancing the need for effective law enforcement against civil liberties and community relations. Any new policies will need careful implementation and evaluation to ensure they are effective and equitable.