Build the Wall and Fight Fentanyl Act of 2023

To establish certain funds to construct and maintain physical barriers along the southern international border of the United States and award grants to certain organizations addressing the fentanyl crisis. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Build the Wall and Fight Fentanyl Act of 2023 2. Funds established for certain purposes (a) Southern Border Wall Fulfillment Fund (1) Establishment There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account which shall be known as the Southern Border Wall Fulfillment Fund (2) Funding Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be deposited in the fund any amount of assets seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection from a cartel. (3) Fund uses Money from this fund shall be used by the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct and maintain physical barriers along the southern international border of the United States. (b) Combating The Fentanyl Epidemic Fund (1) Establishment There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account which shall be known as the Combating The Fentanyl Epidemic Fund (2) Funding Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be deposited in the fund any amount of assets seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection from a cartel. (3) Fund uses (A) In general Money from this fund shall be used by the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a grant to be awarded to eligible entities that help address the fentanyl crisis. (B) Eligible organizations In this paragraph, the term eligible entities (i) State and local law enforcement agencies; (ii) State and local health and human services agencies; (iii) rehabilitation facilities; and (iv) drug-use prevention advocacy organizations. (c) Distribution of funds Any amount of assets seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection from a cartel shall be distributed equally between the funds established in subsections (a) and (b). (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Assets seized The term assets seized (2) Cartel The term cartel (A) any organization with known operations in Mexico and the United States that has been designated as a significant transnational criminal organization under part 590 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations; (B) any of the organizations known as— (i) the Sinaloa Cartel; (ii) the Jalisco New Generation Cartel; (iii) the Gulf Cartel; (iv) the Los Zetas Cartel; (v) the Juarez Cartel; (vi) the Tijuana Cartel; (vii) the Beltran-Leyva Cartel; (viii) La Familia Michoacana, also known as the Knights Templar Cartel; or (ix) La Nueva Familia Michoacan; (C) any other organization that the President determines is a transnational criminal organization with operations in Mexico and the United States; or (D) any successor organization to an organization described in subparagraph (B) or as otherwise determined by the President.

Summary: Build the Wall and Fight Fentanyl Act of 2023 This bill establishes accounts to fund the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. southern border and to provide grants to address fentanyl abuse. These accounts shall be funded from the sale of assets belonging to cartels that have been seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The bill defines cartel as (1) an organization with operations in Mexico and the United States designated as a significant transnational criminal organization; (2) certain named organizations, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Juarez Cartel; and (3) other organizations as designated by the President.