H.R. 4071 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Nov 19, 2025. Received Nov 20, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands border patrol work in foreign countries
The bill allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to work in foreign countries to help stop drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other threats to the United States. They can also support emergency humanitarian work and help foreign governments build their law enforcement capabilities. The bill also allows the U.S. government to pay money damages to people who are injured or harmed by these CBP operations in foreign countries—something that isn't normally allowed under current law.
How it affects you
This mainly affects CBP officers and agents who may now operate internationally. For the general public, the change means there's a new way to seek compensation if you're injured or experience property damage from CBP operations abroad, though claims must be filed within two years and the government's authority to pay these claims expires five years after the law takes effect.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Oct 3, 2025)
Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025
This 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
• monitoring, locating, and deterring the smuggling of illegal drugs, persons, or goods into the United States;
• tracking terrorist or other threats to the United States;
• emergency humanitarian efforts; and
• law enforcement capacity-building efforts.
The bill also allows CBP to expend appropriated funds to pay claims for money damages made against the United States 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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 4071
AN ACT
Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-3) · Introduced Jun 23, 2025 · International Affairs · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Nov 20, 2025: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 4 official versions.