Money Services Transaction Reports Over $200

Federal law requires “Money Services Business” to report cash transactions over $10,000 to the federal government. But for 30 zip codes along the Southern border the government is lowering that threshold to just $200.

For regular people at the border, this will be a massive invasion of privacy. Ordinary transactions—like cashing checks or sending money to family—will be tracked and reported. And businesses will face hours of added paperwork burdens. 

This surveillance is not just invasive—it’s illegal. The Fourth Amendment blocks this kind of warrantless financial snooping. The executive branch cannot impose this requirement without specific authorization from Congress. And this requirement violates federal laws designed to protect small businesses from paperwork overload.

 If you are an individual or business within the affected zip codes, and if you are interested in helping fight this new surveillance requirement, submit your information here.

What zipcodes are affected?

In California:

• Imperial County: 92231, 92249, 92281, 92283
• San Diego County: 91910, 92101, 92113, 92117, 92126, 92154, 92173

In Texas:

• Cameron County: 78520, 78521
• El Paso County: 79901, 79902, 79903, 79905, 79907, 79935
• Hidalgo County: 78503, 78557, 78572, 78577, 78596
• Maverick County: 78852
• Webb County: 78040, 78041, 78043, 78045, 78046

When do these new requirements go into effect? Are they permanent?

The order’s effective date is April 14, 2025. It is supposedly set to expire on September 9, but when the government has used GTOs to impose surveillance programs in the past it has routinely extended them indefinitely. 

I run a business in the affected zip codes. How does this affect me?

These new reporting requirements apply to Money Services Businesses (MSBs), which are businesses that provide financial services like check cashing, money transfers, and money orders.

MSBs are currently required to register with the federal government, and they are currently required to report cash transactions over $10,000. Lowering that reporting threshold to $200 will dramatically increase the amount of paperwork that MSBs are required to file. For some businesses, this could mean hours of new paperwork every day.

I am an individual who lives in the affected zip codes. How does this affect me?

If you regularly use cash in these zip codes, your transactions over $200 will be reported to the federal government. You will be required to show identification, and then subject to reporting if you:

• Cash checks over $200.
• Use cash to send money transfers (wire transfers, Western Union, etc.) over $200.
• Use cash to purchase money orders over $200, or cash out money orders worth over $200.
• Exchange foreign currency in amounts over $200.

The government says this order will help fight cartels. Will it?

Not really. Cartels can dodge this requirement by moving cash a few miles to unlisted zip codes. This is a dragnet that misses all the big fish, but it will snag plenty of law-abiding people and businesses.

How is the government able to target just certain zip codes?

The government is imposing these requirements through what is called a “Geographic Targeting Order.” These types of orders allow the government to impose additional financial reporting requirements on businesses in a certain geographic area. However, GTOs are meant for targeted enforcement—not this type of broad surveillance net.

What is the Institute for Justice? How would you fight this?

The Institute for Justice is a nonprofit public interest law firm that sues the government to challenge unconstitutional government action. We are currently exploring potential litigation challenging this surveillance requirement.

As a public interest law firm, we represent all our clients free of charge.