WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the congressional Northern Border Security Caucus recently met with the President’s “border czar” Tom Homan. Most of the national focus has been on the southern border for illegal crossings and drug smuggling but members want to draw attention to our northern border.
“Just the fact we have attention on it right now, the President realizes it, Tom Homan realizes it and the people that we represent realize it,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R- PA). “The rest of the country is going to be on alert.”
Rep. Kelly, who co-chairs the NBSC, said most of the attention on illegal border crossings and drug smuggling has been on the southwestern border. In a recent meeting with Homan. He hopes the administration turns their attention to the north.
“Tom was saying ‘I’m glad you guys got recognized for this because it’s a critical issue,’” said Rep. Kelly about their meeting with Homan. “While the number of border crossings has come down the most serious, the worst of the worst are coming across the northern border. They’re not coming in that southwestern border they’re coming in- they can fly in they can walk across they get in. And once they get in these communities, it’s the aftermath that gets in tough to get them out.”
Just looking at the data for last year alone, about 86 percent of encounters with people on the terrorist watchlist were at the northern border compared to the southern border.
The President and members are also trying to crack down on fentanyl smuggling. Last year’s numbers show 21-thousand pounds of it were seized at the southern border, compared to only 43 pounds seized at the northern border. That’s about the weight of a packed suitcase.
The President has threatened to issue tariffs on countries like Canada and Mexico if they don’t crack down on the drug smuggling into the US. Kelly said law enforcement agents are overworked, need more assets and more funding to help secure the border.
“What we’ve tried to do is shine a light on it and make sure people are aware of it and start working on it,” said Rep. Kelly.
