Border Patrol officers talk fentanyl, crossings at hearing
Share this @internewscast.com

() — Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability questioned sector chiefs on the front lines of the U.S.-Mexico border about the unprecedented number of crossings, seizures of fentanyl and more during a hearing Tuesday.  

This comes after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas attempted to block the agents from testifying — successfully preventing two of them from speaking. Giving testimony on Tuesday were Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin of the border’s Tucson Sector and Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez of the Rio Grande Valley Sector.

“We went from what I would describe as unprecedented to a point where I don’t have the correct adjective,” Modlin said.

While the immigration narrative is centered primarily around family units, Border Patrol says agents are now encountering single adults. 

House members on Tuesday placed their focus on the flow of fentanyl into the United States, using data to show that the overwhelming majority is seized by Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry.

“We had a change in president in 2020 and some changes in border policy,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D- New Mexico, said. “And what we can see here is that the facts show we are seizing a lot more fentanyl and for me, as a mom, that is a sign of success.”

Even as fentanyl is being seized, though, Border Patrol agents are still finding a lot of it in the field, predominantly being backpacked across the border.

“Last year, we seized about 700 pounds of fentanyl (in the Tucson sector alone),” Modlin said. Broken down, that is roughly 3,174,500 pills.

The Drug Enforcement Agency says drug cartels are behind the flow of fentanyl into the country. Chavez says the cartels are making $38 billion off human and drug smuggling, all while capitalizing on a shortage of resources along the southern border.

“Our agents are out there,” Chavez said, adding that they are saturated with different tasks and rescue missions and, in the process, are “abandoning frontline operations.”

House committee members on the left stressed that their colleagues across the aisle failed to pass an omnibus bill that would have allocated additional resources to the southern border.

“This is serious. People’s lives are in the balance,” Stansbury said. “There are deaths happening all across our country because of these issues.”

Both chiefs said that, with more funding, they would be able to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Baton Rouge man accused of dumping body of missing Georgia man

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A man previously arrested on other charges…

Appeals court blocks vaccine mandate for US government workers

The ruling from the full appeals court reverses an earlier ruling from…

Man indicted in death of 65-year-old Jacksonville woman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man has been indicted in the 2022 murder…

Biden says the U.S. is prepared to ‘act forcefully’ to protect its people after ordering strike

President Joe Biden issued his first comments on the U.S. air strike…

New search for missing Indiana teen

Scottie Dean Morris (EPD) Police conducted a new search on Thursday night…

LAPD officer photos, names released in a records request sparks anxiety

() — The Los Angeles Police Department union has drafted a misconduct…

Trump Saying DA Bragg Doing Devil’s Work Is ‘Another Level’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper said Thursday on his show “The Lead” that…

Paddy McGuinness reveals 'new look' in 'no filter' snap after breaking up with wife Christine

The former Take Me Out star left fans stunned after he unveiled…

Heroic Uber driver speaks out after saving car crash victim

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It was a typical Uber trip back from…

Accused Colorado dentist James Craig looked ‘horrible’ in court

() — James Craig, the Colorado dentist who is accused of killing…

Meeting of China-Russia ‘Marriage’ Shows They Know ‘American Leadership’ ‘Is Back’

During an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday, John Kirby argued that Xi…

Sex trafficking plea deal unending ‘nightmare’ for Texas mom

SAN ANTONIO – Irma Reyes’ mind raced as her husband drove through…