The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025 would authorize the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal—historical legal documents that allow private citizens and entities to seize people and property outside U.S. borders—against individuals the President determines are cartel members, cartel-linked organization members, or cartel conspirators responsible for acts of aggression against the United States. The bill defines cartels as organizations listed in a January 20, 2025 executive order designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations or as transnational criminal organizations under federal law. Anyone issued such a letter would be required to post a security bond set by the President to ensure they comply with the letter's terms and conditions. This bill essentially revives a centuries-old legal mechanism to enable private military-style operations against cartel targets without requiring traditional military or law enforcement action.
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