# Plain Language Summary: Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025

This bill gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permission to operate more actively in foreign countries to fight drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other threats to American security. Specifically, it allows CBP officers and agents—particularly those from the Air and Marine Operations division—to work directly with foreign governments on joint operations within their territories, as long as both countries have agreed to this arrangement beforehand.

The types of activities CBP can now conduct abroad include monitoring and tracking illegal drugs heading toward the United States, locating and stopping human smuggling operations, identifying terrorist threats, and addressing other security or economic dangers to America. The bill also allows CBP to assist with emergency humanitarian work like search and rescue operations, medical aid, and emergency transport when needed. Additionally, CBP can help foreign governments build stronger law enforcement capabilities to combat these same threats.

One important provision deals with accidents or damages that might occur during these foreign operations. If someone in another country is harmed or suffers property damage because of CBP activities, the U.S. government can now use its regular operating budget to pay compensation claims—but only if the claim is filed within two years of the incident. This authority expires after five years, and Congress requires the Department of Homeland Security to report back on all payments made, including who received money, how much they got, and what happened to justify the payment.

In practical terms, this means American border agents will have a clearer legal framework to work alongside foreign police and military in places where drugs and smugglers originate, potentially stopping threats before they reach U.S. borders. However, it also means American taxpayers could end up paying for damages caused by these overseas operations.

Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025

Guest, Michael

Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025This bill expands permitted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities in foreign countries and provides for tort claims against the United States for certain CBP operations in foreign countries.The bill allows officers and agents of the Air and Marine Operations of CBP to provide specified support to the government of foreign countries. In particular, officers and agents may provide support for<ul><li>monitoring, locating, and deterring the smuggling of illegal drugs, persons, or goods into the United States;</li><li>tracking terrorist or other threats to the United States;</li><li>emergency humanitarian efforts; and</li><li>law enforcement capacity-building efforts.</li></ul>The bill also allows CBP to expend appropriated funds to pay claims for&nbsp;money damages made against the United&nbsp;States&nbsp;that arise in a foreign country in connection with CBP operations. This includes money damages for injury, loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by certain acts or omissions of an employee of the agency while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment. Under current law, acts occurring in foreign countries are excepted from the Federal Tort Claims Act.Claims made under the bill must be made no more than two years after the date of the incident. The authority to expend funds for such damages expires five years after the date of enactment of the bill.&nbsp;