Florida State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R- Spring Hill) wants the federal government to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Filed in the Florida Senate on Dec. 19, Senate Memorial SM 1020 is a resolution that urges the U.S. State Department to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations that carry out heinous activities and threaten the security of all Americans.
“Whereas the land and maritime borders of the United States 8 present unique challenges and threats to the national security of the country, and whereas drug cartels engage in illicit activities, including human smuggling, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, money laundering, drug smuggling, extortion, and kidnapping, which have breached the borders of the United States, the Florida Legislature respectfully urges the United States Secretary of State to designate drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations so that appropriate means may be initiated to mitigate and, eventually, eliminate their operations,” the legislation said.
According to Ingoglia, the rise in drug-related cartel activities stems from the influx of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. through its southern border.
“It is time to get serious about stopping the plague that is human and drug trafficking. In addition to fixing the perennially broken legal immigration system and stopping the influx of illegal immigrants, this is a great first step to protecting Americans,” he said.
The legislation will be considered during the upcoming regular session of the Florida Legislature, which begins on Jan. 9.
