EPA Accelerates Crackdown on Toxic and Poisonous Imports in Concert with CBP, Keeping Americans Safe
EPA - Press Release
December 23, 2025
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – On Friday, December 19, 2025, newly confirmed Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall, who oversees the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), and his Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Pritzlaff traveled to southern California to accelerate law enforcement efforts to stop foreigners from profiting off sending poisons and pollution to the United States. Under the Trump administration, EPA is dramatically expanding its imports investigative capacity and enforcement scope beyond the limited efforts of previous years, launching broader investigations that target illegal pesticide and chemical smuggling operations across multiple sectors to safeguard communities, agricultural integrity, and national security. This stepped-up enforcement has led to the blocking of more than 200,000 pounds of illegal pesticide imports at ports across America this year.
In a visit that reaffirmed EPA’s commitment to protecting America while furthering cooperative federalism and cross-agency partnerships, AA Hall met with Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport Port Director Africa R. Bell and other officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The EPA and CBP officials discussed how the two entities can continue working together to keep Americans safe from illegal and dangerous imports. This includes efforts to advance further sharing of information critical to inspection, enforcement, and coordination to hold violators accountable. AA Hall also participated in imports inspection demonstrations, visited CBP’s examination warehouse, received a briefing from leadership of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and toured the Port of Los Angeles by boat.
Read full news release: