Utah Valley Times

Washington, D.C. — In a recent Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing on the Biden Administration's border policies and their impact on Utah, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) expressed his concerns about the safety of his district. Curtis emphasized the urgent need for stricter border controls, stating, "With open borders, they're not safe. My district doesn't feel safe, and it's unacceptable on every level."

Curtis drew attention to the alarming statistics regarding illegal crossings and encounters at the southern border. He highlighted that since January 2021, there have been 8 million illegal crossings nationwide and over 6.7 million encounters at the border, with FY 2024 projected to exceed the numbers seen in previous fiscal years.

The Representative further emphasized the dire consequences of the Biden administration's border policies on Utah, particularly in Southern Utah. He revealed that fentanyl overdose deaths in the region have surged by a staggering 300% over a three-year period. Curtis attributed this increase to the operations of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, which has been smuggling drugs through St. George, Utah.

Curtis supported his claims by referencing data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to the DEA, Utah witnessed 541 overdose deaths in 2022, with opioids accounting for 74% of those cases. In 2020, fentanyl-related deaths numbered 122, and in 2019, they were as low as 54.

The alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths and the infiltration of drug cartels into Utah have raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of the state's residents. Curtis's remarks during the hearing shed light on the urgent need for comprehensive border security measures to counteract the devastating impact of illegal activities on local communities.

As the debate over border policies continues, it remains crucial for policymakers to address the pressing issue of border security in order to ensure the safety of all Americans.