Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 23 MARCH 2026

FinCEN Issues Expanded Southwest Border Geographic Targeting Order

Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Contributor
Ballard Spahr LLP

Ballard Spahr LLP

Ballard Spahr LLP, an AmLaw 100 law firm with 19 US offices, serves clients in more than 50...

View firm profile
Explore more from Ballard Spahr LLP

On March 10, 2026, FinCEN issued a renewed and expanded Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) imposing enhanced reporting and recordkeeping requirements on certain money services businesses (MSBs) operating along the Southwest border.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Kelly A. Lenahan-Pfahler
Kelly A. Lenahan-Pfahler
Author LinkedIn connections

On March 10, 2026, FinCEN issued a renewed and expanded Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) imposing enhanced reporting and recordkeeping requirements on certain money services businesses (MSBs) operating along the Southwest border. According to FinCEN, the action is intended to support law enforcement efforts to disrupt money laundering and bulk‑cash movement tied to Mexico‑based drug cartels and other criminal networks. The new GTO is effective March 7, 2026, through September 2, 2026, and expands the geographic footprint of prior orders issued in March and September 2025.

Access the new GTO here. Read FinCEN’s press release here. This is a topic on which we previously have blogged extensively.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

See more popular content from

Article

SBA Extends Deadline For Comments On Historic Overhaul Of Size Standards

The Small Business Administration has extended the comment period for two proposed rules that could dramatically reshape federal government contracting by significantly expanding the pool of entities eligible for small business set-aside procurements. With some size standard thresholds proposed to increase as much as tenfold, these changes would fundamentally alter the makeup of the small business contractor base.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP
Article

BIOSECURE Act Update: Court Enjoins WuXi AppTec’s 1260H Designation, but Strategic and Compliance Clocks Keep Running

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has preliminarily enjoined the Department of War from enforcing WuXi AppTec's Section 1260H designation, finding the agency misread its evidence on state and military affiliation. However, this ruling does not close alternative pathways to biotechnology company of concern (BCC) designation under the BIOSECURE Act, and earlier supply-chain restrictions continue to drive near-term compliance decisions with a critical June 30, 2027 deadline for sub-tier supp
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

Massachusetts’ 2026 Ballot Questions: What Clients Need To Know

Massachusetts voters will decide nine statewide ballot questions in November 2026 that could fundamentally reshape the state's legal, regulatory, and fiscal landscape. These measures address government transparency, election reforms, housing development, marijuana regulation, firearms laws, and state revenue limits, with implications extending far beyond Election Day to implementation, regulation, and ongoing policy debates.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 14, 2026

The Treasury Department intensifies economic pressure on Iran through Operation Economic Outcast, suspending aviation licenses and sanctioning dozens of entities while implementing a presumption of denial for Iran-related transactions. Meanwhile, new enforcement actions target Chinese cybercrime platforms, Ecuadorian terrorist organizations, and Israeli settlers, as Congress considers comprehensive Russia-Iran sanctions legislation.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

DOJ Continues DEI False Claims Act Enforcement With $25 Million Accenture Settlement

The Department of Justice announced a $25 million settlement with Accenture Federal Services over allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying compliance with anti-discrimination requirements while allegedly using race or sex in hiring, promotion, and access to professional development programs. This marks the third major DEI-related FCA enforcement action in 2026, following similar settlements with IBM and Deloitte.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 21, 2026

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has become law, imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and shadow fleet vessels while authorizing tariffs up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas. How will these new measures impact global trade relationships, particularly with China and India as the largest buyers of Russian crude?
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

National Historic Preservation Act Overhaul: What You Need To Know

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has advanced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would fundamentally restructure Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, marking the most significant regulatory overhaul in over 20 years. The proposed changes would shift the consultation process from a multi-step framework to an agency-prepared report system, narrow the scope of protected properties, and grant federal agencies greater unilateral authority in resolving adverse effects.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

DOJ's $2 Million Honeywell Settlement Under The Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative: What Compliance Failures Mean For Defense Contractors

The Department of Justice secured a $2 million settlement with Honeywell Aerospace for allegedly failing to comply with NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements under a Department of War contract. This case demonstrates how cybersecurity compliance failures can trigger False Claims Act liability even without an actual data breach or cyberattack, and highlights the growing role of whistleblowers in exposing contractors' gaps between contractual obligations and actual security practices.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Article

FinCEN Proposes To Designate Banque Misr UAE As A Primary Money Laundering Concern And Revoke Correspondent Banking Access

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has proposed revoking Banque Misr UAE's correspondent banking access to U.S. financial institutions, designating it as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern. This action stems from Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast, which aims to sever financial channels Iran uses to evade sanctions and fund terrorist activities through shadow banking networks.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

AI Learning Or AI Copying? Ninth Circuit Weighs In

The Ninth Circuit held that GitHub Copilot's AI-generated code did not violate DMCA's copyright management information (CMI) removal provisions, even when output resembled source code, because the system generated new works through probabilistic patterns rather than retrieving and stripping information from existing copies. This decision establishes a critical distinction between AI systems that learn and generate versus those that retrieve and reproduce, with significant implications for how courts evaluat
United StatesIntellectual Property
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

Senate Banking Committee Advances Brian Johnson’s Nomination To Lead CFPB

The Senate Banking Committee has advanced Brian Johnson's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a party-line vote, setting the stage for a full Senate confirmation. With the Senate's pre-election recess looming and Mark Paoletta currently serving as Acting Director, the timing of Johnson's potential confirmation could determine whether the CFPB has Senate-confirmed leadership before the November midterm elections.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

CSBS Releases Artificial Intelligence Supervisory Framework For State Examiners

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) on September 16, 2026 released an Artificial Intelligence Supervisory Framework designed to help state financial examiners identify and understand how the bank and non-bank institutions they regulate are using artificial intelligence, assess the associated risks, and determine when a more in-depth review may be appropriate.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

Revised Draft Rules For The Colorado ADMT Act And Conversational AI Act Released

Colorado's Department of Law has released a revised draft of its Automated Decision-Making Technology and Conversational AI Service Rules, introducing significant changes to the state's AI regulatory framework. The updated rules address critical definitions around material influence and establish new standards for consumer rights, adverse outcomes, and reviewer qualifications. Organizations operating under the Colorado AI Act face important compliance considerations as the public hearing approaches.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

California Website Tracking Litigation: What SB 690 And Variety Media Mean For Retailers

California lawmakers passed SB 690 to eliminate private lawsuits under CIPA's pen register provisions, while the Court of Appeal's tentative ruling in Variety Media extends CIPA's reach to internet communications but limits claims based solely on IP address collection. These developments create both opportunities and challenges for retailers navigating website tracking litigation, requiring careful evaluation of tracking practices, disclosures, and vendor relationships.
United StatesPrivacy
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Article

House Financial Services Committee Approves Legislation To Place CFPB Under Congressional Appropriations Process

The House Financial Services Committee on September 16 approved H.R. 10184, the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026, by a 28-21 vote. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), would make significant changes to the structure, funding, rulemaking, supervision, enforcement, and other authorities of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
United StatesFinance and Banking
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP