The United States is grappling with a severe fentanyl crisis, exacerbated by the drug's illegal manufacture in China, its shipment to Mexico, and subsequent smuggling across the U.S. border. This issue has sparked a political debate, with various public figures pointing fingers at each other and at policies that they believe are failing to address the epidemic. On one hand, some politicians and officials argue that the current administration's border policies are insufficient to stem the flow of fentanyl into the country, thereby endangering American lives, particularly the youth. They highlight the role of drug cartels in controlling the border and smuggling fentanyl into communities across the United States, with over 50% of fentanyl coming through the Southwest border. On the other hand, there are calls for stricter actions against those involved in the drug trade, including the imposition of sanctions on Chinese fentanyl manufacturers and the removal of sanctuary protections for felony fentanyl dealers, a measure recently blocked by California Democrats. The crisis is underscored by the staggering amount of fentanyl seized by border patrol agents, with enough drugs intercepted to kill billions of people, and the arrest of 916 drug dealers in San Francisco alone. Despite these efforts, the epidemic continues to claim thousands of lives, outpacing deaths from COVID or gun violence in some areas, and smuggling record amounts into states like Montana.
Since 2021, Tucson Border Patrol Agents have seized enough fentanyl & meth to kill billions of people. They have found these drugs hidden in Microwaves, children’s toys, & even watermelons. Our Border Patrol agents are doing everything they can, but with high demand & limited… https://t.co/4O2C9n5Xuy
Drug Cartels are endangering the lives of my constituents by smuggling record amounts of fentanyl into Montana, and Biden's FBI is doing NOTHING about it! Thank you to President Stiffarm and Councilman Krik for their testimony at today's @NatResources hearing. https://t.co/KTz8xZ0nf3
🚨🇺🇸FENTANYL CRISIS STARTS AT ARIZONA'S BORDER REP. NEWHOUSE:" We do not control the border; the cartels control the border. The cartels determine who, when, and where anyone crosses the border. This fentanyl epidemic is fueled through the Southwest border - over 50% comes… https://t.co/J5xcaG9nG6
Fentanyl is killing thousands of (mostly young) Californians a year, far more than COVID or gun violence. A common sense solution would be to deport felony fentanyl dealers who murder our kids for cash. It’s absolute lunacy (and accessory to murder) to allow them to stay & kill… https://t.co/q7RY8FQgLb
CA Dems just killed my bill to strip felony fentanyl dealers of sanctuary state protections. How can we crack down on criminal cartel drug dealers if Sacramento gives them tools to evade deportation? #CALeg https://t.co/bSJsnCH9tQ
We know that fentanyl is being illegally manufactured in China, shipped to Mexico, and smuggled across our open border. That's why I voted to impose sanctions on Chinese fentanyl manufacturers for their crimes. We must protect our kids & our communities. https://t.co/sgXuAHLcTn
This is a lethal dose of fentanyl. Cartels are smuggling thousands of pounds of fentanyl into our communities — and Biden refuses to secure our border. https://t.co/YueFL5ifYl
In the past year San Francisco arrested 916 drug dealers but we still are losing the fentanyl epidemic big time. Why? 1. It doesn’t do any good to arrest drug dealers if we are just going to release them pending trial. They go right back out on the street and continue to… https://t.co/nv0bFSP203
People & drugs are pouring across our border. Fentanyl is killing an entire generation of young people, & these aren't drug addicts or junkies. They're kids who make a mistake or get fooled & are poisoned. @RubenGallego is content to let this happen. I'm not. I will go to… https://t.co/q4Q1iKRNm8