S. 221 — Extending Limits of United States Customs Waters Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings regarding the U.S. territorial sea (extended to 12 nautical miles by Presidential Proclamation 5928 in 1988), contiguous zone (extended to 24 nautical miles by Presidential Proclamation 7219 in 1999), and applicable customary international law on maritime jurisdiction, high seas freedoms, boarding requirements, and hot pursuit. It expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority for law enforcement in customs waters should be extended to 24 nautical miles (from 12 nautical miles) to interdict faster modern vessels and advance law enforcement and public health interests.

This section revises the definition of "customs waters" (i.e., waters in which U.S. customs officers may enforce U.S. import laws) in the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401(j)) and the Anti-Smuggling Act (19 U.S.C. 1709(c)) by— (1) measuring applicable distances for foreign vessels subject to relevant treaties from U.S. baselines (determined in accordance with international law) rather than the coast of the United States; and (2) for all other vessels, extending such waters to the territorial sea (to the limits permitted by international law per Presidential Proclamation 5928 of December 27, 1988) and the contiguous zone (to the limits permitted by international law per Presidential Proclamation 7219 of September 2, 1999), from four leagues of the coast. (Thus, expands potential U.S. customs enforcement jurisdiction seaward to 24 nautical miles.) The amendments take effect the day after enactment.