The current Biden/Harris administration has failed to stop the flow if illegal drugs and the trafficking of people. Our current administration is openly letting the floodgates of crime to pour into our country. In addition to the obvious not-so-mentioned issues that are going on. Drug and human trafficking are negatively affecting the well-being of our country.
What are some of the most deadliest drugs found at the borders and neighborhoods?
The epidemic of Fentanyl drug use is running rampant wrecking havoc all accross the country. Alongside other drugs, Fentanyl deaths far outnumber any deaths from car and gun deaths.
Over 100,000 deaths per year happened because of Fentanyl overdoses.
In addition to that fact, according to a saccounty.gov website “Even more alarming is the fact that fentanyl poisoning has now become the leading cause of death among adults aged 18 to 45, surpassing suicide, gun violence, and car accidents.” It is to say that fentanyl is one of the most destructive and deadliest drugs known to claim the lives of many Americans.”
What is Fentanyl?
According the drugfree.org article the drug is originally used as” …a powerful synthetic opioid. Medically, it is used to treat severe pain or to manage pain after surgery, and is sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids”.
Unfortunately it is also used for drug trafficking operations across our borders. “Seizures of heavier, less-potent drugs like marijuana are down while illicit fentanyl, a drug 100 times more potent than morphine, are up significantly: 480 percent higher at the southern border in fiscal year (FY) 2023 compared to FY 2020.” as pointed by the immigrationforum.org article.
These drug smuggling activities ironically happen at the port of entry to get into the US. Where about more than 15 million travelers, passenger and cargo vehicles pass through such port of entry (POEs) a month. Keep in mind Border patrol officials have a lot to do in their plate as it is. It’s no surprise that 73 percent of drug smuggling activities happen at the ports of entry. Only 27 percent happen in between (POEs) according to the immigrationforum.org article.
It’s easier to get illicit drugs and substances through the ports of entry as added with this article, “Hidden in compartments in vehicles and cargo, smuggling is often quicker and more expedient at POEs compared to traveling through rough terrain between ports”.
Our detection systems and other technologies that are placed between our POEs do deter a great amount of smuggling outside of POEs. Despite this, data shows to conclude that drugs make it directly through the Ports of entry at an increasing rate.
More and more seizures weighing thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs keep being reported by Border officials working at the border. As pointed here, “Border officials seized 4,600 pounds of fentanyl along the southern border in 2020, a number that skyrocketed to 26,700 pounds in FY 2023 – a 480 percent increase. Most of the fentanyl seized by the two agencies in FY 2023, about 98.9 percent (26,700 out of 27,000 pounds), was seized at the southern border. The remaining 305 pounds were encountered at the northern border (2 pounds) and at U.S. maritime borders and interior checkpoints (303 pounds).
90 percent of drug trafficking happens at the ports of entry as confirmed with border officials here, “Of the fentanyl seized at the southern border, the vast majority, about 23,900 pounds or 90 percent, was seized at POEs.” At this point border officials also concluded, “ most illicit fentanyl is smuggled through POEs adds credence to nationwide evidence that illicit drugs are predominantly smuggled through land ports, not between. CBP’s data shows fentanyl smuggling to the U.S. is increasing, most of it is smuggled through the southern border, and a majority of that comes through ports of entry.”
All in all this is just the tip of the iceberg with drug smuggling. Human trafficking will be the next topic at hand as the crisis at the border gets worse with such horrific crimes.
According to Ice.gov “Due to the complex nature of the crime, traffickers often operate under the radar, and those trafficked are not likely to identify as victims, often blaming themselves for their situation. This makes it more difficult to identify the crime because victims rarely report their situation.”
In other words what is being reported is only a piece of the truth that manages to get the spotlight. The rest of the picture unfortunately stays unreported and in the shadows.
The crime of human trafficking is harder to detect therefore the statistics for today’s human smuggling could be much higher than reported. To give you an idea back according to niches.gov, “ each year, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders (some international and non-governmental organizations place the number far higher), and the trade is growing. (U.S. Department of State. 2004. Trafficking in Persons Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State.)”
The elusive criminal industry has been and will be successful as long as our borders are kept porous and open. No matter what kind of amnesty-friendly politicians offer it will not interfere with the operations of these human and drug trafficking organizations. Amnesty only provides more business to these traffickers!
According to the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative, a global central hub of information relating to human trafficking, its stated, “Data from cases that [International Organization of Migrantion] IOM assisted over the last ten years show that nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, such as airports and land border control points.”
Who are these victims?
As stated in this article, “Of the 600,000-800,000 people trafficked across international borders each year, 70 percent are female and 50 percent are children. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade. (Ibid.)”
“Each year, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States…”
Even US citizens are affected especially children as mentioned here:
“… The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. (U.S. Department of Justice. 2004. Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Fiscal Year 2003. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice.)”
Remember these stats were in the early to mid 2000s, now imagine how much higher it is now. With Biden and Harris at the helm, their immigration policies are reckless and irresponsible by encouraging more people to come not just illegally but encouraging the business of cartels and other criminal organizations to profit off victims of human and drug trafficking.
This is one of many reasons why in my view I would hands down support a 10 - 15 year immigration moratorium is needed in legislation. It can reduce and put a dent on crimes against humanity like drugs and human trafficking on our borders.
As US citizens we must hold our Federal Government accountable by voting to secure and close the borders only letting trade and commercial activity to continue. After closing our borders for an immigration moratorium we should overhaul our entire immigration system to fit the interests of our country and its citizens. Repealing and replacing our immigration laws both internationally and domestic. Only then we can look forward to seeing our nation reach our fullest potential.