H.J.Res. 81 — Authorizing the use of military force against certain Mexican cartels.

This section authorizes the President to use the Armed Forces of the United States, as the President determines necessary and appropriate, against 9 specified covered cartels—Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, the Michoacán family, the United cartels, Cartel del Golfo, and Clan del Golfo—as well as any forces directly coordinated with, affiliated with, or succeeding any of those cartels. (Thus, the authorization extends to associated and successor groups, not only the named organizations.)

This section provides specific statutory authorization, consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, for the use of military force described in the joint resolution under section 5(b) of that law. It also clarifies that the joint resolution does not supersede any other requirement of the War Powers Resolution.