U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has joined in several additional legislative efforts to combat illegal immigration and trafficking at the southern border.
In light of her Wednesday appointment as the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Britt Joined U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing a bill to create punishments for those funding smugglers and coyotes.
The No Coyote Cash act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a criminal penalty and a ground of removability for financing the unlawful entry of an alien into the United States.
"With a record number of Americans dying from fentanyl poisoning, record deaths among migrants attempting to cross the border, record profits by the cartels, and a record amount of people on the terrorism watchlist apprehended at the border, there is no doubt that this is a crisis unlike which we have ever seen," Britt said. "It is critical that we end incentives and loopholes that are encouraging people to break the law and game the system. This bill would protect vulnerable children, women, and men from being exploited by dangerous criminals while also helping stem the tide of immigrants illegally flooding across our porous southern border."
Additionally, Britt joined Rubio in pushing legislation to provide criminal punishments for fentanyl distributors.
Fentanyl has become an increasingly pernicious difficulty for law enforcement across the nation.
Recently, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) shared federal estimates about the fentanyl crisis on the southern border, saying the amount of fentanyl seized had "jumped ninefold" since 2018.
"Since July, border seizures of fentanyl have averaged 2,200 pounds a month, meaning U.S. authorities are confiscating more fentanyl in a single month than they did during all of 2018," Moore said. "As a result of our open southern border, fentanyl is killing an estimated 196 Americans each day."
The Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act would punish the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death as felony murder.
"Fentanyl is stealing lives and devastating families in every corner of Alabama and America," Britt continued. "This crisis is infiltrating our schools and our communities, and it is past time that we hold the criminals profiting off of this poison accountable. This legislation is an important part of comprehensively addressing the supply of and demand for fentanyl in our country, so we can keep our children safe and our future strong."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
