The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill on Monday targeting Mexican drug cartels’ use of tunnels beneath the U.S.-Mexico border. The legislation passed with a 402-1 vote, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) as the sole dissenter.
The bill, titled the Subterranean Border Defense Act, introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), aims to enhance border security by addressing the sophisticated tunnel systems employed by cartels to smuggle drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.
Crane argued in favor of the bill, stating, “Since 1990, officials have discovered more than 140 tunnels that have breached the U.S. border with an 80% increase in tunnel activity occurring since 2008. With border crossings thankfully going down since January, I think it’s safe to assume this will drive threats to our border underground through these tunnels.”
Despite the bill’s broad support, Rep. Tlaib opposed the measure. Her office did not provide an immediate comment regarding her dissenting vote.
The legislation underscores a unified congressional effort to combat the escalating threats posed by drug cartels exploiting underground passages to circumvent border security measures. The near-unanimous vote reflects a bipartisan commitment to strengthening national security and curbing illegal activities along the southern border.
