I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4574 
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance border security 
by seeking to expand partnerships with appropriate law enforcement 
entities in Mexico and Central American and South American countries 
to combat human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico and 
such countries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 12, 2023 
Mr. CORREA (for himself and Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, 
and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance 
border security by seeking to expand partnerships with 
appropriate law enforcement entities in Mexico and Cen-
tral American and South American countries to combat 
human smuggling and trafficking operations in Mexico 
and such countries, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cooperation on Com-
batting Human Smuggling and Trafficking Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DHS PARTNERSHIPS TO COMBAT HUMAN SMUG-
GLING AND TRAFFICKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, in coordination with appropriate Federal partners, 
shall enhance border security by seeking to expand part-
nerships with appropriate law enforcement entities in 
Mexico and Central American and South American coun-
tries to combat human smuggling and trafficking oper-
ations in Mexico and such countries, including through the 
following: 
(1) The establishment or expansion of cross- 
border transnational criminal investigative units to 
identify, disrupt, and support the prosecution of 
human smuggling and trafficking operations. 
(2) Enhanced participation in the Bilateral 
Human Trafficking Enforcement Initiative or suc-
cessor initiative. 
(3) Advanced training for certain investigators 
and prosecutors from Mexico and such countries. 
(b) INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF HUMAN 
SMUGGLING
AND
TRAFFICKING.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall seek to expand collaborative pro-
grams involving Homeland Security Investigations that 
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are aimed at supporting the investigation and prosecution 
of human smugglers and traffickers targeting children and 
families that pose border security threats and operate at 
the southern land border of the United States, including 
the continuation and expansion of anti-trafficking coordi-
nation teams. 
(c) INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
TO DETER MIGRA-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall carry out targeted public information 
campaigns to inform targeted migrant populations 
within Mexico, Central America, South America, and 
certain other countries with high migration rates re-
garding the dangers of travel across Mexico to the 
United States. Such campaigns shall combat misin-
formation and disinformation by transnational crimi-
nal organizations and other nefarious actors regard-
ing United States laws or policies. 
(2) SPECIFICATIONS.—The information cam-
paigns implemented pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, 
to the greatest extent possible— 
(A) be targeted at populations and local-
ities with high migration rates; 
(B) employ a variety of communications 
media; and 
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(C) be developed in consultation with ap-
propriate program officials of the Department 
of State and, as appropriate, Mexican, Central 
American, South American, and other appro-
priate foreign governments, nonprofit or aca-
demic entities, and representatives acting on be-
half of targeted migrant populations, including 
repatriated migrants. 
Æ 
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