By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Thursday, April 27, 2017, US Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) filed House companion legislation for the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act, HR2186. This legislation was recently introduced in the Senate by US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The EL CHAPO Act would use approximately $14 billion of the fortune belonging to famed Mexican drug lord, Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera “El Chapo” to pay for President Trump’s controversial border wall plan.
Congressman Brooks said in a statement, “No nation can exist without borders and the EL CHAPO Act, which would reserve billions in assets forfeited to the US Government by drug kingpins to be used for border security, is a significant step towards funding President Trump’s border wall, thereby restoring America’s control of her borders. I commend Senator Cruz for sponsoring this financially responsible solution which promotes American security by minimizing the trafficking of drugs and weapons across our southern border.”
Senator Ted Cruz said, “Ensuring the safety and security of Texans and all Americans is one of my top priorities and I am glad to work with Mo in this important effort. Fourteen billion dollars will go a long way toward building a wall that will keep Americans safe and hinder the illegal flow of drugs, weapons, and individuals across our southern border. By leveraging any criminally forfeited assets of El Chapo and his ilk, we can offset the wall’s cost and make meaningful progress toward achieving President Trump’s stated border security objectives, all while easing the impact on our Federal Budget.”
El Chapo headed the famed Sinoloa drug cartel. His US assets were forfeited to the United States Government as a result of his criminal prosecution.
Representatives Kevin Brady (R-Texas), Tom Garrett (R-Virginia), Steve King (R-Iowa), and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) have signed on as original cosponsors of HR2186.
President Trump promised the American people that he would build a 30 foot tall wall along the over 1,989 miles border between the United States and Mexico in order to halt the flow of illegal aliens and narcotics from Latin America. Trump however told the voters that he would make Mexico pay for the wall. Mexico has since refused to pay for the wall and the Republican controlled Congress has been reluctant to appropriate the funds for the massive project.
Congressman Mo Brooks represents Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District and is a member of the controversial House Freedom Caucus. There is much speculation around Montgomery that the conservative Congressman may be considering running for the US Senate vacated by the enormously popular Jeff Sessions (R) when he was confirmed as US Attorney General for the Trump Administration.
