Border Security
More on Border Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) urged President Biden and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas to take all necessary actions to secure the southern border following a traffic stop on the Lake Traverse Reservation that resulted in the seizure of approximately 12.4 pounds of fentanyl pills and 3.6 pounds of fentanyl powder, enough to kill every South Dakotan four times.
I am grateful and honored to serve as South Dakota’s only voice in the U.S. House of Representatives for another two years. Since coming to the U.S. House in 2019, Republicans have been the minority party. Despite that, I’ve stayed focused on effectiveness and led more than a dozen bills across the finish line. I plan to bring that same attitude to the 118th Congress—working hard and getting things done for South Dakotans.
“The key to getting a handle on drug crime is securing our southern border. The drugs might be coming across the southern border, but they’re coming to a community near you,” Pennington County Sheriff-Elect Brian Mueller said. These drugs are connected to violent crime at very high rates—and almost all of it is coming from the border.
July 2022 marked a 388% increase in border crossings compared to July 2020 when President Trump was in office. This number is slightly down compared to June—however—July is the 17th consecutive month under Biden’s presidency that the southern border had over 150,000 illegal border crossings. Not to mention the 200% increase of fentanyl seizures from June 2022 to July 2022.
The United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) announced the border numbers for April this week. Last month, there were 234,088 illegal crossings at our southern border. This is the worst month on record.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) along with 130 of his Republican colleagues questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas suitability for office.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) along with 77 of his House Republican colleagues urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to reverse its decision to rescind the Designating Aliens for Expedited Removal or “expedited removal” policy.
On Tuesday, President Biden visited the U.S. Capitol to address both chambers of Congress while 37 million Americans tuned in at home to listen to the annual State of the Union.
While the current outlook of our nation and the world may appear bleak to many, I was proud to see Republicans and Democrats alike stand in unity to support Ukraine and its people at the start of his address.
In 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) seized 11,201 pounds of fentanyl—a 234% increase from 2020. This amount of fentanyl is enough to kill every American seven times. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the United States and is 50 times more powerful than heroin. This lethal drug has made its way into our homes and communities, accounting for 64,000 of the over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021—the highest number ever.
This week marked one year since President Biden took office. I wish I could say happy anniversary, but it isn't that happy. Let's be honest, it's been a bumpy ride.
I'm not somebody who just complains. I also focus on solutions, so I'm going to identify four areas where I think this administration has failed and how we can do a better job as a country.