U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) spoke with Newsmax TV Friday morning following a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the border crisis.
Moore, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, heard emotional testimony Wednesday about how the border crisis is contributing to the drug problem in the United States.
Moore told Newsmax that fentanyl, which is killing Americans daily, is bleeding into the United States because of insecure borders.
"The fentanyl is poured across the U.S. southern border, and often, you know, the Democrats on the other side of the aisle say, 'Well, it's coming through the ports of entry,' but that is not the case," said Moore. "And we talked a great deal to the sheriff about that. We're finding out now that it's all along the U.S. southern border. It's pretty porous, and the drug cartels control in that area of the border."
After hearing that emotional testimony, mostly by families of those who died from fentanyl that came from Mexico, Democrats continued to deny there is a border security issue and accused Republicans of fear-mongering.
For over a year, the GOP has complained about border agents being unable to do their jobs because of the Biden administration's policy. Some of those agents have come forward, confirming they are unable to control who or what is coming into the United States. Moore said those agents still have their hands tied, which he argued was only helping fuel the drug crisis. However, he said he believes Congress is taking steps toward change.
"It's $7,000 you have to pay the cartel to cross to come into our country," Moore explained. "So, they're smuggling these people into our country, and one of the things that concerns me most, and I brought it up in the hearing, is they're actually allowing people to backpack heroin, cocaine or fentanyl to pay their passage. So, we have a situation where the Biden administration, their policies are creating indentured servants or slaves who make installment payments to the cartel. They're basically drug mules, and that's the process that we started bringing to our attention months ago. And I'll tell you that accountability is coming. We're starting the hearings now, and you'll see more of this in the near future."
In 2022, opioid deaths in the United States set a new record, with 110,236 people dying.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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