
Hold onto your hats, folks! The situation at our southern border isn’t just a crisis; it’s a full-blown national security nightmare. While the Biden administration plays catch-and-release with potential terrorists, our Border Patrol agents are drowning in a sea of illegal crossings, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and criminal activity. It’s time to wake up and smell the fentanyl because this isn’t just about immigration anymore – it’s about the safety of every American citizen.
The Border Crisis by the Numbers
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is facing unprecedented challenges at the Southwest border. In fiscal year 2023, CBP reported over 3.2 million total encounters, a staggering increase from previous years. This surge has stretched resources to the breaking point, with agents struggling to maintain operational effectiveness.
The crisis extends beyond mere numbers. CBP arrested 35,433 illegal aliens with criminal convictions and 598 known gang members in FY 2023. Even more alarming, 294 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were apprehended since the beginning of FY 2021. These statistics paint a grim picture of the national security risks posed by the current border situation.
99 illegals on the FBI terror watchlist released into the US.
Americans are less safe under Biden-Harris open border policies. https://t.co/WCZWZ43BlO
— Rep. Pat Fallon (@RepPatFallon) August 5, 2024
Gotaways and Checkpoint Closures
One of the most concerning aspects of the border crisis is the number of “gotaways” – individuals who evade apprehension. More than 1.7 million known gotaways have been reported, with actual numbers potentially 20% higher. This raises serious questions about who exactly is slipping through the cracks.
“I fear the extent of the threat posed by the record-number of gotaways on Secretary Mayorkas’ watch won’t be clear until it is too late.” – Chairman Mark E. Green, MD
The strain on resources has forced the closure of interior security checkpoints, further hampering efforts to intercept drugs and criminal aliens. These checkpoints play a crucial role in secondary screening and have historically been effective in catching smugglers and criminals who manage to cross the initial border.
The Fentanyl Crisis
While the border crisis rages on, America is facing another deadly epidemic: fentanyl overdoses. CBP reported seizing 27,293 pounds of fentanyl in FY 2023, but this is estimated to be only 5-10% of the total smuggled into the country. With over 100,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses in the past year, mostly due to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, the link between border security and public health has never been clearer.
“The increased supply of fentanyl and variations in its production during the last year have increased the lethality of an already deadly drug, a trend likely to persist in 2024” – Homeland Threat Assessment
The unchecked flow of illegal narcotics across the border is directly contributing to the devastation of American communities, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced border security measures.
Sources
- Border Sector Chiefs Confirm Operational Impacts of Border Chaos: Increased Gotaways, Closed Checkpoints, and Empowered Cartels
- Number of people on terrorist watchlist stopped at southern U.S. border has risen
- CBP Enforcement Statistics
- Terrorist Entry Through the Southwest Border
- DHS released at least 99 terrorism suspects into U.S. under Biden, House report concludes
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
- Q&A: Put U.S. Border Security First
- Man on terror watchlist was released by Border Patrol
- FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Secure the Border
- BIDEN’S BORDER CRISIS: EXAMINING POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE ILLEGAL MIGRATION