Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Too often, arms are sent around the world with insufficient attention to how they threaten peace, development, and human rights...At a time when our country is increasingly reluctant to share its economic resources in support of sustainable economic development, we remain all too ready to share our weapons.

—Nat’l Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sowing Weapons of War, 16 June 1995

Tell Congress and the President to Keep His Promise to End Arms Trafficking to Mexico

Earlier this week following tariff negotiations, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum shared that as part of the agreement, “the United States commits to work to end trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.”

Representatives Castro, Escobar, and Frost and Senator Durbin then reintroduced the Stop Arming Cartels Act in both chambers, a bill that would take important first steps in stopping U.S. guns from fueling violence across Latin America, which in turn forces people to migrate from their homes. Call on Congress and the administration to support S 367 and HR 923 to begin addressing root causes of migration and prevent violence in the U.S. and abroad.

Background

Despite so much focus on immigration and dehumanizing immigrants, the Trump administration has given little attention to the root causes of migration, including U.S.–fueled violence across the globe. More than two-thirds of crime guns recovered in Mexico are sourced from the U.S. – manufactured and purchased in the U.S. and trafficked over the border – including the deadly .50-caliber rifles that can accurately fire at targets over a mile away as well as penetrate some armored vehicles. These weapons have no place on the streets but are a popular choice for criminal organizations. The Stop Arming Cartels Act would ban their sale in the United States as well as strengthen regulations specifically focused on criminal organizations and straw purchasing of these rifles.