WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his Partnership for Advancing Regional Training and Narcotics Enforcement Response Strategies (PARTNERS) Act, which would allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to train Mexican military forces in the United States to combat cartels in Mexico, passed the Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Texas shares more than 1,200 miles of common border with Mexico, and bilateral cooperation is essential to stop the flow of deadly drugs and keep people safe,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would empower the Department of War to train Mexican military forces in counternarcotic efforts to crack down on cartels and bolster the national security of both countries.”

Sen. Angus King (I-ME) is a cosponsor of this legislation.

Background:

The PARTNERS Act would create a military-to-military pilot program through the DoD to bring Mexican military forces to the U.S. to receive tactical training that they can employ in Mexico to counter transnational criminal organizations (TCO), including cartels, weapons dealers, drug traffickers, and human smugglers. Sen. Cornyn will also introduce the text as a standalone bill.