Baldwin Pushes for Increased Border Security to Stop Flow of Fentanyl into U.S.
In letter to President Biden, Senators push for increased funding to secure ports of entry along southwest border
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined 7 of her colleagues in pushing President Biden to prioritize additional resources to strengthen the security at the southwest border to stop the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl through ports of entry along the border. As overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows drugs are overwhelmingly being smuggled through U.S. ports of entry, particularly in Arizona and California. In response to CBP agents reporting finding pills in seat cushions, car batteries, metal walkers, and bicycle frames, the Senators are pushing for increased funding for security and surveillance for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Additionally, as Chair of the LHHS Subcommittee, Senator Baldwin remains supportive of the Biden Administration’s request for supplemental funding to support fentanyl treatment and prevention. Overdose deaths, particularly among young people, are increasing across the United States. In total, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 112,000 people died from a drug overdose between May 2022 and May 2023, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids causing the vast majority of overdoses.
In their letter, the Senators urged President Biden to request additional supplemental funding for the border. Specifically, the Senators pushed for additional CBP agents to increase processing and screening capacity at ports of entry, as well as acquiring non-invasive inspection technology to stop drug smugglers before their fentanyl hits American fentanyl.
The letter was led by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and signed by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
An online version of this release is available here.
October 19, 2023
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
As you consider the critical funding needs of our Nation, we urge you to prioritize additional funding, resources, and innovative strategies to strengthen the security of our southwest border and address the multiple, overlapping challenges there. We have long supported increasing funding for comprehensive measures to enhance border enforcement, management, and security. The situation at our border is complex, and it will take continued leadership and funding to stem the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl, smuggling, and transnational criminal organizations that operate along our border.
The increasing rates of overdose deaths are clearly being driven, in part, by fentanyl trafficking across our border. From FY 2019 to FY 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seizures of fentanyl nearly tripled. So far in FY 2023, CBP has already seized over 25,000 pounds of fentanyl.[4] In March, it was reported that CBP seized more than 21 million fentanyl tablets in the Nogales, AZ port of entry over the prior five months—more than the number of tablets seized during the entire previous year.[5]Highlighting the complex situation that CBP must navigate when seizing fentanyl, officials have indicated that individuals are smuggling pills inside seat cushions, car batteries, metal walkers, and even hollowed-out bicycle frames.[6] Furthermore, CBP data has shown that drugs are overwhelmingly being smuggled through U.S. ports of entry—particularly in Arizona and California[7]—and we must do more to ensure that our CBP Officers have the funding, tools, and technology necessary to be able to stop this surge of fentanyl into our country.
For years, we have voted to enact additional funding to address the complex challenges at our southwest border by focusing on smart security measures and enhanced technology. We continue to support strong investments in border security measures that will keep our Nation safer and increase the capacity, personnel, and technology that are available to enhance the security of our border. Thank you for your attention to our request and these critical funding needs.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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