Bipartisan Lawmakers Press DHS for Stronger UFLPA Enforcement Following Record Entity List Expansion

A bipartisan group of eight lawmakers, led by Reps. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), sent a Sept. 3, 2026, letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting a briefing within 30 days on implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The letter welcomes the Department of Homeland Security's July 2026 addition of 43 companies to the UFLPA Entity List—the largest single expansion since the law's 2022 enactment, bringing the total to 187 entities—but raises concerns over declining detention rates, transshipment through third countries, and vulnerabilities in sectors like seafood and consumer goods.

The signatories, including Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), seek details on border stops and releases, the pace of Entity List additions, and tracing of Chinese inputs via intermediaries. They emphasize that robust enforcement protects human rights, American workers, and fair trade.

DHS's July 31 announcement confirmed the additions target high-priority sectors including aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, tomatoes, and seafood, with a rebuttable presumption barring goods from listed entities. CBP has denied entry to over 24,300 shipments valued at nearly $1 billion under the law. The letter specifically flags seafood supply chains, including vessel-based abuses and transshipment, and consumer products like Labubu toys from Pop Mart, following isotopic testing by advocacy groups that linked cotton in 16 of 20 sampled dolls to Xinjiang.

Related reporting confirms ongoing scrutiny of Pop Mart supply chains, with groups urging investigations and potential listings. The development builds on prior congressional pressure and aligns with expanded enforcement priorities across textiles, critical minerals, and battery materials.