{"id":2572757,"date":"2026-02-23T18:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T23:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-make-new-house-push-on-cartels-after-kingpin-death\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T18:53:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T23:53:45","slug":"republicans-make-new-house-push-on-cartels-after-kingpin-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-make-new-house-push-on-cartels-after-kingpin-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans make new House push on cartels after kingpin death"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-make-new-house-push-on-cartels-after-kingpin-death%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2572757&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Following the death of mexican cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes,known as El Mencho,GOP lawmakers are pressing too expand U.S. authority to combat cartels abroad. They note that the operation involved U.S. intelligence support but no U.S. ground forces, and they urge new tools to act more aggressively against cartels outside the United States. Rep. Tim Burchett and Sen. Mike Lee are sponsoring the Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act, which would authorize the president to employ privately armed mercenaries on foreign soil without requiring congressional approval for each action. Supporters like Rep. Dan Crenshaw argue that El Mencho\u2019s death shows the Mexican government is increasingly willing to counter cartels, and they advocate strengthening military, intelligence, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/surge-in-fentanyl-seizures-show-cartels-taking-advantage-of-lax-border-policies-dhs-officials-say\/\" title=\"Surge in Fentanyl Seizures Show ... Taking Advantage of Lax Border Policies, DHS Officials Say\">law-enforcement efforts<\/a> in Mexico. It remains unclear whether Congress will move the proposed legislation, though countering Mexican cartels has been a focus of the governance sence the president returned to office, with the United States designating cartels as terrorists and coordinating a U.S.-led task force in the raid.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Republicans make new House push on cartels after death of Mexico kingpin<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2470910\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The death of a notorious <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4466923\/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-dead\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4466923\/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-dead\/\">drug lord<\/a> by Mexican security forces on Sunday is emboldening GOP lawmakers who want to give the Trump administration more tools to take action against cartels outside of the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) is making a renewed push for the Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act, a bill he is cosponsoring with Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), that would empower a president to use privately armed mercenaries separate from the U.S. military to help root out cartel members on foreign soil without congressional approval.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4468509\/tony-gonzales-calls-resign-bow-out-2026-race-staffer-affair\/\">Pressure mounts on Tony Gonzales to step down over sexually explicit messages to late staffer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4468346\/mike-johnson-cold-water-congress-codify-tariffs\/\">Mike Johnson throws cold water on House stepping in to codify Trump&#8217;s tariffs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4468057\/tony-gonzales-staffer-texts-resign-lauren-boebert-mike-johnson\/\">Lauren Boebert calls on Tony Gonzales to resign over explicit texts with late staffer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>While U.S. forces were not involved in the operation that killed drug lord <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4466923\/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-dead\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4466923\/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-dead\/\">Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes<\/a>, known as &ldquo;El Mencho,&rdquo; the U.S. did provide intelligence support.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The president could basically send these folks down there and get our folks and be very efficient, I feel like, and you wouldn&rsquo;t have to ask Congress for every bullet and every rifle,&rdquo; Burchett said in a social media video Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a former Navy SEAL, urged Congress to &ldquo;actually pay attention&rdquo; to the violent retaliation from Oseguera&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/3425722\/what-happens-when-cartel-kills-americans-trump-cjng-terrorism-drugs\/\">Jalisco New Generation Cartel<\/a> in the aftermath of his death, which in some cases has trapped Americans abroad, and suggested that lawmakers capitalize on the operation with new laws to bolster military, intelligence, and law enforcement efforts in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>In a post of his own, Crenshaw described Oseguera&rsquo;s death as a sign that the Mexican government is heeding President Donald Trump&rsquo;s calls to take on the cartels.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, second to right, talks to reporters as the Republican caucus meets on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Washington. At very right is Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. (AP Photo\/Mariam Zuhaib)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;We finally have a solid partner in the Mexican Government to work with. We are <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >finally focusing huge intelligence collection efforts<\/a> on the cartels,&rdquo; he said, citing legislation he spearheaded authorizing better data collection on the cartels. &ldquo;We are finally taking them on. It won&rsquo;t be over soon. But it&rsquo;s about time we started.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4466923\/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-dead\/\">MEXICAN SECURITY FORCES KILL LEADER OF JALISCO NEW GENERATION CARTEL &lsquo;EL MENCHO&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether Republican leaders in Congress and Trump will bring new legislation to the floor, but countering Mexican cartels has been a focus of the administration since the president returned to office last year.<\/p>\n<p>Trump designated Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations in a bid to clamp down on drug-smuggling last year and established a U.S.-military<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portlands-democrat-run-task-force-recommends-crackdown-on-drug-use-more-police\/\" title=\"Portland&#039;s Democratic-led task force proposes stricter measures against drug use and increased police presence\">-led task force<\/a>&nbsp;that played a key role in the Mexican raid against Oseguera over the weekend, according to <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/new-us-military-led-group-aided-mexicos-hunt-el-mencho-cartel-boss-2026-02-22\/\">Reuters<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOP pushes new cartel action after kingpin\u2019s death<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2572758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP23297859271781.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[13819,36244,3653,74406,3756],"class_list":["post-2572757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cartels","tag-drug-trafficking","tag-house","tag-kingpin-death","tag-republicans"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP23297859271781.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572757"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2572761,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572757\/revisions\/2572761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2572758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}