During the administration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, the United States has experienced 10 million illegal border crossings. The surge in illegal immigration plays a crucial role in the rampant crime problems we face in our communities.
For the Southern California communities, a major consequence of the Biden-Harris administration’s border crisis is the sharp rise in fentanyl abuse. The fentanyl crisis has shattered numerous families, claiming the lives of over 200 Americans daily, becoming the leading cause of death among the 18-45 age group.
Like many other issues we face, our primary adversary, the Communist China, is the main culprit. As described in a recent report, the CCP bears responsibility for production, transportation, and profiting from the fentanyl trade. Our adversaries exploit the open southern border to transport fentanyl into the United States.
The CCP and Mexican drug cartels profit from this, while families in Southern California suffer.
The worsening fentanyl crisis has compelled us to take action. Recently, I have been honored to be appointed as a member of a special committee newly established by Congress, dedicated to finding solutions to halt the circulation of fentanyl.
The Fentanyl Policy Working Group established by the Congressional Committee on China Issues is committed to promoting new law enforcement measures to curb the illicit trafficking of fentanyl and to strengthen or impose sanctions on foreign entities involved in fentanyl transactions. While the potential solutions are multifaceted, the most direct action is clear: ensuring border security.
Our region has a direct stake in this issue, as I often hear law enforcement officials recounting terrifying stories of deadly drugs flowing into our communities and households.
Over the past four years, the quantity of drugs crossing our borders has sharply increased. According to the testimony of Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in Congress, from the start of President Biden’s term to 2023, seizures of fentanyl powder have increased by 676% and fentanyl pills by nearly 400%.
The precursor materials used to produce fentanyl (known as precursors) are manufactured in China, smuggled through drug cartels, and introduced into our communities. What is even more alarming is that these precursor chemicals often enter the US through the Port of Los Angeles, then are transported to Mexico before returning as potent narcotics to our streets.
Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration has not taken the fentanyl crisis seriously, even as family after family bears the pain of losing loved ones. If they were prepared, they would have long closed the border and shut down entry points for drug smuggling. Yet their governance post-inauguration repealed effective solutions that could reduce illegal immigration.
Criminals worldwide have taken note of the loopholes at the southern US border, consequences of policies failing to deter illegal immigration and sacrificing those seeking lawful entry into the US.
There is no doubt that the President and Vice President bear responsibility for this crisis. Since President Biden appointed Vice President Harris to oversee border matters, illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking have surged.
As an immigrant and representing many first-generation Americans in Congress, I will continue to urge the Biden-Harris administration to encourage legal immigration while combating illegal border crossings.
Both myself and many of my constituents came to the US legally, worked hard, and tirelessly pursued the American Dream. However, illegal crossings not only defy the law but also unfairly disadvantage those seeking to come here through proper channels. We are increasingly realizing that a porous border allows harmful substances like fentanyl to spread in our communities.
Enough is enough. It is time to ensure border security, protect Southern California families, and hold those responsible for harming our communities accountable.