Sen. Cruz floats bill to use drug lord money to build wall

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today reintroduced a bill last week into the new Congress that would use money forfeited to the U.S. government from drug lords to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The bill — called the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act –references Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Lorea, also known as El Chapo, the Mexican drug trafficker. It would use money forfeited by El Chapo and other drug lords who are prosecuted for the completion of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Congress has a clear mandate from the American people: secure the border and build the wall,” Cruz said. “Ensuring the safety and security of Texans is one of my top priorities. Indeed, I have long called for building a wall as a necessary step in defending our border. Fourteen billion dollars will go a long way to secure our southern border and hinder the illegal flow of drugs, weapons, and individuals. By leveraging any criminally forfeited assets of El Chapo and other murderous drug lords, we can offset the cost of securing our border and make meaningful progress toward delivering on the promises made to the American people.”

The government has been partially shut down since Dec. 22 over funding for the border wall. A continuing resolution to keep the government open that included $5 billion for a border wall failed to pass in the Senate.

A Quinnipiac University poll taken Dec. 12- 17 found that 54 percent of Americans oppose building a wall along the Mexican border while 44 support it. Further, it found that 62 percent oppose shutting down the government over wall funding, while 34 percent support it.

The U.S. Government is currently seeking the criminal forfeiture of more than $14 billion in drug proceeds and illicit profits from El Chapo, the former leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel. El Chapo was extradited to the U.S. to face criminal prosecution for numerous alleged drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering.