Mountain State Times

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has called for a tougher stance on border security and drug cartels, in response to the surge of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. since 2021. In a post on X, he asserted that the U.S. must "remain in Mexico, build the wall, and crack down on the cartels."

"More than 8.7 million illegal immigrants have crossed our borders since 2021," said Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia, running for U.S. Senate, according to X. "This trend is unsustainable and has made every state a border state. We must reinstitute, remain in Mexico, build the wall, and crack down on the cartels, using this crisis to their advantage."

In May 2023, Governor Justice authorized the West Virginia National Guard to assist Texas in Operation Lone Star for a period of 30 days. According to a press release from his office, this deployment was intended to bolster border security measures, combat the rising influx of fentanyl, and address human trafficking issues.

Screenshot of post on X | https://twitter.com/JimJusticeWV/status/1769710063768293714

According to KFF Health News, areas within Cabell County including the city of Huntington in West Virginia are grappling with a fentanyl epidemic. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and has largely supplanted heroin in the drug market. The substance is often combined with stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine which further complicates treatment efforts and responses to overdoses. A Quick Response Team operating in Cabell County has been instrumental in preventing overdose deaths; however, toxicology reports indicate that users may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl.

In December 2023, U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen discussed illicit drug trafficking with an emphasis on fentanyl which primarily enters the country through its southern border with Mexico. Yellen stated: "Majority of precursor chemicals for illicitly manufactured fentanyl come from China and are synthesized into fentanyl in Mexico." She added: "Fentanyl is then smuggled across the border into the United States. This means fentanyl is not just a public health emergency with devastating human and substantial economic costs."

A report by America First Policy Institute in 2023 indicates that Mexican drug cartels or Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) pose significant threats to the U.S. These technologically advanced criminal enterprises specialize in illicit drug smuggling and include notorious cartels such as the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel (CJNG). These organizations control vast territories in Mexico and have extended their influence into the U.S., with estimates suggesting nearly a million members engaged in various illegal activities. With annual revenue estimates exceeding $64 billion, these cartels are involved in a range of criminal activities including drug trafficking and oil pipeline theft. The successful smuggling of fentanyl across the U.S. southern border has led to a spike in opioid-related deaths among Americans aged 18-45.

Governor Justice, who was first elected in 2016 and won a second term in 2020, is currently running for U.S. Senate in West Virginia, according to his campaign website.