S.1854 - Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1854, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025, mandates the imposition of sanctions on political and economic elites in Haiti who are connected to criminal gangs. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the links between these elites and criminal organizations. These reports will identify prominent gangs, their leaders, activities, and areas of operation, as well as the elites who knowingly have direct links to them.
Expected Effects
The immediate effect of the bill will be the preparation and submission of detailed reports on Haitian criminal networks and their connections to political and economic elites. Following the submission of these reports, the President will be required to impose sanctions, including property blocking and visa restrictions, on individuals identified in the reports. This aims to disrupt the activities of criminal gangs and reduce the influence of corrupt elites in Haiti.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security by disrupting transnational criminal organizations.
- Improved stability in Haiti, potentially reducing migration flows to the US border.
- Promotion of human rights by targeting individuals involved in coercive recruitment and other criminal activities.
- Increased transparency and accountability of political and economic elites in Haiti.
- Strengthened international cooperation in combating corruption and organized crime.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for unintended economic consequences in Haiti, affecting the general population.
- Risk of escalating tensions between the US and Haitian elites, possibly destabilizing diplomatic relations.
- Difficulty in accurately identifying and verifying connections between elites and criminal gangs, leading to potential errors.
- Possible circumvention of sanctions by targeted individuals, limiting the effectiveness of the measures.
- The sunset clause limits the long-term impact of the Act.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the US Constitution by exercising Congress's power to regulate foreign commerce (Article I, Section 8) and to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. The imposition of sanctions and visa restrictions falls under the President's authority to conduct foreign policy. The reporting requirements ensure congressional oversight, maintaining the balance of power.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).