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By Rep. Jerry Carl

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a plan my House Republican colleagues and I have been working on so that we are fully prepared to hit the ground running when we take back the House this November. We believe it’s absolutely critical for us to lay this groundwork now so that we do not waste any time getting this country back on track once we are in control next January.

One of the key components of our Commitment to America is ensuring America is a nation that’s safe for all of us. While there are countless opinions about how to get this done, everyone agrees that all Americans deserve safe communities to live, work, and raise a family.

The first thing we need to do is secure the southern border and stop the illegal flow of drugs into our communities. I visited the southern border over a year ago and spoke with law enforcement there about the immigration crisis plaguing our nation. Record border crossings under the Biden administration have led to more drugs, overdoses, and a surge in crime. Since January of last year, we’ve seen more than 3 million illegal border apprehensions and at least 800,000 known “got-aways.”

I read an article just a few days ago that reported border officials in Texas stopping a trailer carrying almost 2,000 packages of cocaine worth an estimated $11.8 million. This is what’s coming across our border, and law enforcement agents are simply overwhelmed trying to keep up with the flow. Even worse, the drugs coming across our border are not just stopping in Arizona, New Mexico, and California. They are pouring into every state and every community. It’s no wonder the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45 is fentanyl overdoses.

My colleagues and I have some commonsense solutions to fix this crisis. First, we need to finish building the wall, fully fund ICE and border patrol, and use cutting-edge technology to curb the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. Next, we need to end catch and release so we can detain those who illegally enter our country while their immigration cases are pending. Finally, we need to require Remain in Mexico and use Title 42 authority to address the public health emergency created by the fentanyl crisis.

Border security is national security, and the last few months have proven that even states like Alabama have become border states due to the crisis at our southern border. It’s way past time to secure our border and protect the health and safety of Americans all across this country.