Rep. Gabe Evans Questions Counterterrorism Expert on Cartel Adaptations to Border Policies

Impact of Fentanyl and Drug Trafficking

• fentanyl and other drugs coming into communities have resulted in approximately 400,000 American deaths under the previous administration, a number far exceeding those killed in the September 11th attacks.
• 💔 In Colorado alone, over 7,000 lives have been lost since 2020, with the state at times experiencing the second-highest teenage overdose rate nationally.
• 💔 Brooke Hardy, a constituent's daughter, is highlighted as one of the many victims of fentanyl poisoning, underscoring the personal toll of this crisis.

Cartel Adaptations to Border Security

• 🌊 Following decisive border security measures under the previous administration, cartels are shifting smuggling operations to the maritime environment, including the Gulf of America, Caribbean, and Pacific.
• 🛰️ To counter this shift, there's a need for increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to monitor vast maritime spaces and intercept drug smuggling vessels.

National Security and Food Security

• 🧑‍🌾 The agricultural workforce in the U.S. is significantly composed of individuals without legal status, presenting a complex challenge when discussing border security and deportations.
• 🍎 Ensuring food security is presented as a foundational element of national security, emphasizing the need to support farmers and industries reliant on this workforce.
• ⚖️ A balance is needed between border security enforcement and the economic needs of industries that depend on immigrant labor.