Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts recently discussed the potential impact of temporarily closing the U.S. southern border on illegal immigration and drug smuggling by cartels. Ricketts pointed to the Trump administration's implementation of the Remain in Mexico policy, which significantly reduced illegal border crossings to a 45-year low. During his time as governor in 2019, authorities seized approximately 46 fentanyl-laced pills from highways in Nebraska.
However, Ricketts highlighted a concerning trend, noting that by the first half of 2021, the number of seized fentanyl pills had surged to 151,000. This sharp increase in illegal drug trafficking underscores the challenges posed by the current open border policy, which has led to a surge in illegal drugs entering the country.
Ricketts emphasized that while completely eliminating illegal border crossings may be difficult, the Trump administration's policies were effective in significantly reducing the flow of both people and illegal drugs across the border. The senator's remarks shed light on the consequences of the current open border approach, which has resulted in a flood of illegal drugs entering the United States.
