U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has announced plans to introduce new legislation aimed at tightening regulations on non-citizens carrying large sums of cash out of the United States. The proposed Stop Somali Currency Airport Smuggling through Hawalas (CASH) Fraud Act seeks to address concerns over significant amounts of money being transported internationally, particularly from Minneapolis.
According to Cornyn, the Department of Homeland Security has reported that around $700 million in cash has been flown out of Minneapolis airport in suitcases over the past two years, with much of it linked to Somali nationals. He emphasized that “no one knows where this money has come from or where it is going,” and highlighted that current law does not make such activity illegal.
Cornyn explained his proposal by stating: “My legislation, the Stop Somali Currency Airport Smuggling through Hawalas Fraud Act, will strengthen the customs form for noncitizens taking cash out of the country to ensure we know who is moving it and why. The bill will require disclosure of whether the cash was received from a government contract or benefit program, and additional information about both the individual transporting the cash and the recipient. By requiring the form to be filed 72 hours in advance, my legislation will give U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents time to fully vet the form before allowing noncitizens to leave our country carrying large sums of money. This legislation offers a necessary update so that illegal immigrants can no longer legally fly out of the United States to their home countries with suitcases full of cash.”
Currently, travelers must declare only if they are carrying more than $10,000 in cash when leaving the country. The existing customs forms do not ask for details about how or where individuals obtained their funds.
Cornyn expressed concern about potential links between this flow of money and criminal or terrorist organizations abroad: “It is also quite possible that these millions are bolstering the arsenal of al Shabaab, an active terrorist affiliate of al Qaeda that has previously been linked to Somali nationals living in Minneapolis.”
He further cited data from federal agencies regarding financial fraud: “The Government Accountability Office estimates that the U.S. loses somewhere between $223 billion and $500 billion every year from fraud and improper payments. This means nearly $1,500 is lost every year to fraud for every person in the U.S.” Cornyn added context about national debt levels as well.
Cornyn concluded by arguing for increased scrutiny: “By passing my Stop Somali Currency Airport Smuggling through Hawalas Fraud Act, we can halt the hundreds of millions of dollars that flow through our airports in suitcases that may one day be used to fund an attack on Americans.”
John Cornyn has held his Senate seat since 2002 after defeating Ron Kirk with 55% percent of votes versus Kirk’s 43%. In subsequent elections he won against Rick Noriega (54.8% vs 42.8%) in 2008; David Alameel (61.6% vs 34.3%) in 2014; and MJ Hegar (53.5% vs 43.9%) in 2020.
More details can be found at https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4471743/day-care-fraud-suitcases-cash-somali-fraud-worse-than-you-think/.
