“It’s a War Zone”: Hartzler Visits Southern Border

HARRISONVILLE, MO – Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler visited the Tucson Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and learning first-hand about the organized Mexican drug cartels which funnel deadly illegal drugs into the United States.

“Traveling to the Arizona-Mexico border allowed me to see first-hand the challenges facing our customs officers and Border Patrol agents on the front line,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who has been actively combatting the scourge of drug abuse in her Missouri district. “It is a warzone putting our dedicated agents against the highly funded, highly manned, and well-organized Mexican cartels. The cartels control the entire Mexican border and are consistently looking for lucrative opportunities, such as smuggling people and drugs into the United States,” added Hartzler, who toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Hartzler saw cartel scouts conducting counter surveillance on the hills in Mexico overlooking the Port where they watch the border around the clock to find gaps in security. This allows them to smuggle people and drugs into the United States.

Hartzler noted that the Mexican cartels use a variety of methods to conduct their illicit activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. In Nogales, over 100 tunnels have been discovered since 1990 used primarily to smuggle drugs. Over the last several years, there has been a decline in marijuana seizures and an increase in hard drugs such as methamphetamine, heroine, and cocaine. Drug mules (people used to transport illicit drugs by foot across the border in remote areas) have become more violent and more likely to attack Border Patrol agents in order to protect their products. Hartzler added that consumer drones are used by the cartels to monitor and assess U.S. border activities in order to direct and plan movement into the United States. Earlier this year, Hartzler introduced legislation that allows the Department of Homeland Security to target and interdict these drones. This bill was incorporated into the FAA Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law this month.

“I am glad we were able to secure this important authorization to stop the drug drones from crossing our border, but this is just one of the steps needed to win this war on drugs. Mexican drug cartels are currently exploiting gaps in our border security and it is our responsibility to fill those gaps to keep their illicit activities out of the United States,” said Hartzler. “This includes investing in three key capabilities for a strong border – funding for a secure border wall, providing advanced technology such as sensors and cameras, and securing more customs officers and Border Patrol agents. There are many challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border, and these three investments will help to enhance U.S. border security. One of the ways to combat the flow of drugs into our local towns and communities is to stop them at the border, and this means supporting our customs officers and Border Patrol agents with the tools needed to win this battle,” added Hartzler.

Along the border in Nogales lies a border fence stretching to the rough mountainous terrain of Arizona. The rough terrain in Arizona makes it difficult and dangerous for Border Patrol agents to operate. The cartels encourage and exploit women and children to enter the United States in order to make a profit. Often, these individuals are left for dead in the desert with the false hope of reaching their destination. Border Patrol agents, with the help of the National Guard, frequently conduct life-saving rescue missions in the desert climate. The National Guard assists the Border Patrol by providing situational awareness and transportation for rapid deployment.

Congresswoman Hartzler toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. This port is responsible for checking cars, trucks, and pedestrians that cross into the United States. The customs officers are tasked with protecting the American public from harmful agricultural products, illegal drugs, and dangerous individuals entering the United States. The officers assigned to this port use advanced skills and technology to detect illegal drugs hidden in obscure locations. This photo shows objects intercepted by our customs agents, demonstrating the different methods used by the cartels to bring drugs across the border into America. 

Hartzler and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) viewed a storm drain under the city of Nogales which is sometimes used by the cartels to smuggle drugs across the border. Along with the Port of Entry, various tunnels are used to smuggle drugs into the United States. Our Border Patrol works hard to locate and stop this dangerous activity.