[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4069]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SOUTHWEST BORDER SECURITY

  (Mr. GUINTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight the connection between 
drug and human trafficking at the southwest border, where Mexican 
cartels control both. Last week I traveled to Texas and New Mexico to 
learn more about this connection.
  The President's disregard of our immigration laws is encouraging 
people to risk their lives to enter the United States, enriching the 
same cartels that smuggle deadly heroin. Last year in New Hampshire, my 
home State, more than 400 Granite Staters died of a heroin or opiate 
overdose. There were nearly 50,000 in the United States last year.
  That number is, unfortunately, trending upward, despite the best 
efforts of law enforcement. Border Patrol agents report that cartels 
are forcing illegal immigrants to carry heroin in exchange for 
protection. Sanctuary cities serve as way stations in this drug trade.
  A secure border is a humane border. The Southwest Border Security 
Threat Assessment Act would compel Homeland Security to develop a 
better plan. Border agents need more support, as do police, across New 
Hampshire and this country, working to keep drugs off of our streets. 
Enforcing interior immigration laws would be an excellent first step.

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