All states are now border states feeling the effects of the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless and illegal open border policies. Not surprisingly, Ohio is especially feeling the effects in towns like Springfield, where 15,000 Haitian immigrants dwarf a town of just 60,000. residents.
The surge has strained Medicaid and food assistance programs, raised rent prices and led to an increase in unlicensed drivers who can’t read English traffic signs on the roads. In Ohio, it is currently estimated that 143,000 illegal immigrants — and the left wants to continue pretending it doesn’t matter. (Related: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine warns of ‘economic progress’ lost if Haitians leave Springfield)
Given the Biden-Harris administration’s refusal to act, the Ohio Legislature should act to address the fiscal and public safety impacts of this surge in illegal aliens. One common sense solution is to impose fees on international anonymous wire transfers, a favorite tool of drug and human traffickers. The new fees on these transactions will hit where it hurts: the wallets of illegal actors. This policy would make it more costly to operate illegally in Ohio, while also generating much-needed revenue for local law enforcement. Ohio Congressman Scott Whigham introduced This is exactly what the law does.
this invoice We won’t touch on everyday transactions like Venmo payments or traditional bank transfers. Instead, it focuses on cash transfers through companies that do not verify identities or ask customers questions. Under the proposal, law-abiding citizens would receive a full refund of wire fees at tax time, while illegal aliens and criminals would pay the cost.
These additional funds will help Ohio combat drug trafficking and human trafficking, which is expected to skyrocket under the Biden-Harris administration. In 2023 alone, Over 3,500 Ohio residents died from fentanyl poisoning, most of them from Mexican cartels smuggling the chemical into the United States from China. Once here, the traffickers send the profits back to the cartel leaders via wire transfers to fund further drug smuggling operations. A crackdown on wire transfers would have a major impact on the profitability of these networks. (Related article: Ashley Hayek: For Kamala Harris, we prioritize dreamers over fallen American heroes)
In addition to drug trafficking, human trafficking is a major problem in the United States, with an estimated 500,000 victims nationwide. 7,000 A case of infection has been confirmed in Ohio. Some of these victims are children who cross the border as unaccompanied minors and then disappear into the system. Estimated income of cartels and traffickers $14 million per day From human smuggling and human trafficking that take advantage of gaps in U.S. border security and financial regulations. Ohio could make it harder for human traffickers to run and finance their criminal enterprises by imposing fees on wire transfers.
Finally, the bill would provide revenue to local law enforcement and community programs. Illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking are draining Ohio’s public safety and social services. New fees collected only from illegal aliens and criminal operatives would fund law enforcement efforts to address these challenges without raising taxes on legal Ohioans. .
Oklahoma is the only other state with a similar policy. currently imposed Wire transfers are subject to a 1% fee, which generates $13 million annually. Ohio, which has a growing illegal alien population, could generate up to $140 million a year from the 7% fee proposed in Whigham’s bill. All of this money could be used to fight the scourge of illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
At the federal level, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance introduced A similar bill would impose a 10% fee and stiff penalties for those who try to evade it. His bill would also penalize countries that help people evade fees and disqualify them from receiving U.S. foreign aid and visa waivers. Funds raised under Vance’s bill would go toward securing the southern border.
Federal action like Vance’s proposal is important, but Ohio cannot afford to wait for Congress. The Legislature can act now to protect Ohioans by putting in place safeguards that will make it harder for illegal aliens to operate in the state. Crackdowns on funding illegal activities are a good starting point, and imposing fees on anonymous international wire transfers is a practical solution that benefits law-abiding citizens while holding criminals accountable. It’s a plan.
Ohio State can take the lead on this issue today. What are you waiting for?
Dave Yost is the current Attorney General of Ohio. Ashley Hayek is executive director of America First Works, former director of the 2020 Trump campaign coalition, and author of Beat the Elites.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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