As the Biden administration continues to pursue its destructive open border policies, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy visited the southern border on Thursday and met with local law enforcement to discuss the ongoing migration surge and drug cartel threat.
McCarthy said the Sinaloa drug cartel has taken control of much of the region. They have created a unique racket in which individuals are crossing the border with “camouflaged outfits.” This, he said, is “fundamentally different” from before.
“This is a fundamental problem but it’s a problem created by this administration,” the speaker went on, pointing to the lack of accountability from Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “[N]o one believes our border is secure,” McCarthy said. “You cannot lie to the American people any longer.”
The GOP leader’s comments are especially concerning as the cartel has become the largest employer in the region, according to McCarthy. This has resulted in increased crime and corruption. With no end in sight, the situation will only get worse.
McCarthy brought along several freshman Republican lawmakers, including Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani. Ciscomani echoed McCarthy’s remarks, saying the Biden administration has created a “crisis of confidence.” He went on to call for the administration to be held accountable and for the GOP to combat the efforts of the cartels.
“We will hold people accountable and that includes Secretary Mayorkas,” McCarthy declared.
The GOP’s message is clear: Biden’s open borders policies have created an environment in which the Sinaloa drug cartel rules the region and crime has skyrocketed. It is now up to the Republican party to protect American citizens and ensure the safety of our southern border.
The cartels are pouring deadly drugs like fentanyl and heroin into the United States. In December 2021, the AGO, Scottsdale Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized 1.7 million fentanyl pills worth $9 million. They also seized ten kilograms of powdered fentanyl and one pound of methamphetamine.
The drugs were from the Sinaloa Cartel. According to the DEA, “the Sinaloa Cartel primarily uses trafficking routes that go through Arizona,” and the Phoenix area is a major cartel drug trans-shipment hub.
Representative Jake Hoffman submitted a formal legal opinion request to the AGO (Attorney General’s Office) asking whether the federal government is failing – intentionally or unintentionally – to uphold its obligations to protect our state from invasion under Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
“We were asked for an opinion and are thus providing Arizona policymakers with our legal analysis,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “The Constitution recognizes Arizona’s interest and power to defend herself from this type of invasion.”
The AGO concludes that the violence by cartels and gangs legally qualifies as an invasion, but it’s up to the Governor to make that actual determination. If that happens, the Governor as Commander-in-Chief has independent authority under the State Self-Defense Clause of the Constitution to defend Arizona from the actual invasion.
