Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Since FY2021, there were more than 8.72 million encounters at the Southwest border. (2) Since FY2021, there have been roughly 2 million known gotaways that have evaded United States Border Patrol. (3) Since FY2021, there were 395 encounters in between our borders with individuals on the Terrorist Screening Dataset, also known as the terrorist watchlist. (4) Since FY2021, 9,254 pounds of fentanyl have been seized between ports of entry nationwide. (5) In 2023, there were 105,007 opioid deaths, with 72,776 deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. (6) Mexican cartels and transnational criminal organizations have been linked to committing severe crimes including homicides, rape, sexual assault, and kidnappings, and significantly influence drug trafficking and human trafficking across the Southwest border, organizing and profiting off these illicit operations. (7) In 2024, U.S. Border Patrol sent out multiple alerts to personnel warning of Mexican cartel members being permitted to shoot at Border Patrol Agents and engage in retaliatory shootings, a direct threat to homeland security. (8) In 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) sent out an alert to personnel that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had been given the green light to fire on or attack law enforcement in Colorado, a direct threat to homeland security. (9) State and local law enforcement continue to assume a larger and critical role aiding federal law enforcement in border security operations with limited, finite resources. (10) Federal, State, and local law enforcement need the resources necessary to secure U.S. borders and protect the homeland.