# Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act

This bill gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services new power to restrict who and what can enter the United States when there's a serious fentanyl smuggling problem from a particular country. Essentially, it allows the federal government to temporarily ban or limit people and goods coming from specific countries if officials believe that fentanyl smuggling from those places poses a significant public health threat.

Here's how it would work in practice: If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that a country has a major fentanyl smuggling operation and that allowing people and goods from that country to enter the U.S. creates a serious danger of fentanyl reaching American streets, they could use this authority to suspend entry rights. This could mean stopping shipments of goods, restricting travel, or implementing other border controls from that country for as long as the Secretary deems necessary to protect public health.

The bill essentially treats fentanyl smuggling as a public health emergency similar to disease outbreaks, giving health officials a tool to respond quickly without waiting for other approval processes. However, it's important to note that this power is quite broad—it allows the Secretary to make these decisions based on their judgment about what's necessary, and it could affect regular travelers and legitimate commerce, not just smugglers. The bill doesn't specify exactly what restrictions would look like or how long they might last, leaving those details to be decided by the Secretary through regulations.

Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act

DesJarlais, Scott

Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of illicit drugs into the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. Under this bill, HHS may also restrict migration and imports from a country if HHS determines that the existence of substantial illicit drug smuggling from that country poses a risk to public health.