Senator Lee Questions Witness on Biden's Border Policies and Fentanyl Crisis

Fentanyl Crisis in Utah

• 📈 Fentanyl-related deaths in Utah have risen dramatically, with a 116% surge from 2014 to 2023.
• 💔 In 2023 alone, over 600 Utahns died from opioid overdoses, a stark increase from 23 deaths in 2014.
• 💊 Utah set a record in 2023 for seized fentanyl pills, a record already surpassed by July 2024.
• ⚠️ Fentanyl deaths have more than doubled between 2019 and 2020, with the trend worsening since.

Border Security and Fentanyl Trafficking

• 🚨 Sheriff Barnes reported seizing roughly 22,000 pounds of fentanyl at U.S. ports of entry from October 2023 to October 2024.
• ⚖️ Ingesting just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, and officials estimate only 10% of fentanyl crossing from Mexico is intercepted.
• 🚪 Sheriff Barnes unequivocally stated that the "open border policy" created a gateway for drug trafficking organizations and cartels, exposing U.S. weaknesses.
• 👥 The open border policies are linked to increased risks beyond fentanyl, including human trafficking and the presence of an estimated 1.4 million 'gotaways'.

California's Sanctuary Jurisdiction Impact

• 🚧 California's laws, such as Proposition 47, have impeded law enforcement's ability to enforce laws and ensure public safety.
• 🤝 Sheriff Barnes expressed a desire for laws that allow for better cooperation with federal partners, as current sanctuary jurisdiction laws restrict communication and lead to the release of individuals who reoffend.
• ⚖️ There is support for challenging laws that prevent cooperation, aiming to restore accountability and safety.