The Democratic attorney general from North Carolina is seeking assistance from Congress to address the increasing flow of fentanyl at the southern border. This demonstrates the growing recognition that all states are now border states, as the issue of drug trafficking extends far beyond just the states directly adjacent to the border.
Josh Stein, a candidate for governor, wrote a letter to the majority and minority leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Specifically, he addressed Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), as well as Representatives Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Stein suggests that the influx of illicit fentanyl into the country could be curbed by implementing and utilizing equipment that has already been purchased with taxpayers’ money.
According to Stein, Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) would empower U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to utilize advanced technology to X-ray a greater number of cars and trucks at the border. This would be made possible through the use of massive drive-through screeners.
In the past year, elected politicians from both major parties across the country have consistently acknowledged that “every state is a border state” when discussing immigration.
The blame game is in full swing, with even the White House shifting its stance from denying an open border policy to placing the blame on Republicans for the staggering number of over 11 million illegal crossings since the Biden administration took office.
Stein expresses his disappointment and discouragement upon learning from a network news report that some of the necessary equipment has already been purchased. He is seeking a funding of $300 million from Congress, stating that this amount is required to ensure the installation of the equipment.
Stein emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that “playing politics with border security” is not an option when more than 150 Americans lose their lives daily to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. He highlights that too many lives are at stake and calls for action to address this pressing issue.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision to support Texas’ Republican attorney general in allowing the state to impose charges on individuals who enter illegally. This decision was made evident in a letter dated the same day.
On the same day, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, reaffirmed American support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This announcement comes just a week after $300 million worth of weapons was allocated from contract savings and delivered to the war-torn country.
According to published reports, the depletion of U.S. weaponry in the war has resulted in a need for $10 billion to restock.