Secretary of State Antony Brinken (U.S. State Department)
Bethany Brankley Center Square Contributor
March 23, 2023
(Central Square) – Testimony of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken before the Senate Judiciary Committee on fentanyl seizures at the southern border, testimony by the director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations It contradicts the White House’s claims about .
Senator Lindsay Graham, R.S.C., Asked At Wednesday’s hearing, Brinken asked whether he agreed that the fentanyl was coming from Mexico and “killing tens of thousands of Americans.” And it’s killing Mexicans too. ”
Graham also asked if it’s time to “change our policy” to deal with cartel violence and the fentanyl crisis. Or do you think it works? Do you think our policies against drug cartels are working?”
he replied: …one way he does it is by making sure that the borders have the technology to detect and intercept fentanyl, for example. ”
Blinken also echoed a claim made by many Democrats that “96% of fentanyl entering the United States is through legal ports of import.”
Last month, Rep. Jamie Ruskin, a ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, a Maryland Democrat, claimed 90% of fentanyl was seized at ports of entry.
But Tucson Sector Border Patrol Director John Modlin said half of fentanyl seizures occur in the open rather than at ports of entry. Fentanyl was seized, about half of which was at the scene.
“Fentanyl’s lethality is enough to kill everyone in Arizona 21 times, or half the population of the United States,” he said. Modlin said agents seized 52 percent at the port of entry and the rest at the scene after being “backpacked across the border” between ports of entry.
Later that month, the Arizona State Police seized About 150 miles north of the border, enough fentanyl was found to kill about 800,000 people in a single pickup truck.
Texas law enforcement officials working on Port-to-Port Lone Star Operation seized enough fentanyl to kill everyone in the United States, Gov. Greg Abbott said. As of March 17, OLS officers have seized more than 367 million lethal doses of fentanyl, according to the WHO.
Florida law enforcement officials also seized enough fentanyl in the last few months alone to kill the entire state’s population. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said.
Graham also asked Brinken if he would designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
“What about the idea of going to the source and declaring Mexican drug cartels foreign terrorist organizations under U.S. law, instead of just stopping them at the border?” he asked.
“Yes, of course we will consider it,” Mr. Brinken replied.
His answer contradicted White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre. Said A reporter two weeks ago said, “Designating these cartels as FTOs does not grant us any additional powers that we do not actually have at this time.”
The FTO designation does not depend on Congress or the President. Under Section 8, Section 1189 of the U.S. Code, the Secretary of State has the power to designate an organization as her FTO. In doing so, state and federal agencies gain the power to freeze assets, deny entry to cartel members, and pursue harsher penalties.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott last September was the first governor to designate a Mexican cartel as an FTO. He has since asked the Biden administration to do the same, but he has not received a response, his office told Center Square.
“Texas designated the Mexican cartels a terrorist organization last year,” Abbott said earlier this month. “I have repeatedly urged Biden to do the same. …It is past time for Biden to step in and call these cartels terrorists.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Myares led a coalition of 22 attorneys general last month to ask the president to designate the cartels as FTOs.Instead, they claim, Biden’s plan includes installing “more drug detectors” and expanding inspections of shipments to “stop pills and powders.” [coming in through] borders,” “working with couriers such as FedEx to further inspect drug packages,” and “enforcing harsh penalties to crack down on fentanyl trafficking.”
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott and Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall introduced the Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act, which Moody said would “do the job Biden refuses to do – protect the American people.” She said the president is “preventing the designation of Mexican drug cartels as federal terrorist organizations.” [is] Further proof that he is a trafficking chief. “
