Debunking the misconceptions of immigrants crossing the border with drugs
There is this misconception that the mass media and many politicians say that immigrants crossing the border are to blame for the drug problem in the U.S. The DEA made a statement that more people in the United States are killed from a drug overdose than guns and car accidents but the drugs are not brought into the country strapped to the backs of innocent immigrants looking a better life, they come into this country with the large drug cartels that use technology and sophisticated methods of importing drugs.
Rear Admiral Christopher Tomney is director of Joint Interagency Task Force South for the US Coast Guard says "
"The cartels are very innovative. Due to their large profits, they have a lot of money they can throw at technology.
"In the early days of this task force - and we've been around for 26 years - we saw much higher movement using non-commercial aircraft to fly the drugs northwards.
"[Now] well over 95% of the drugs are moving on the water via container ships, non-commercial vessels, pleasure boats, sailboats, fishing boats. They also have fast boats which try to outrun our law enforcement assets.
With all the money and technology put into ensuring that the drugs get into the U.S, the cartels do not waste their time with immigrants trying to hop the border because they understand that, that pathway is going to be heavy secure.
Therefore there is this false fear towards those hoping the border and coming into the country illegally because of this fear of drugs or violence but in reality, the majority of drugs are not even caused by them.
Eric Feldman is Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations and head of the Tunnel Task Force.
"The cartels are always looking for a guaranteed way to cross narcotics into the US, and a sophisticated tunnel can allow them to cross large-scale loads. Last month we interdicted a tunnel in San Diego and seized more than 10 tonnes of marijuana.
"Compare that to sending four guys across with 30 pounds of marijuana on their backs, who have to navigate the mountains, evade Border Patrols and arrange delivery, and you can see the difference in profit.
The name of the innocent immigrants coming into the U.S needs to be clean and not compared to those of the large cartels because it's not a true representation of the problem. President Trump makes claims that the issues are at the border but that's not truly come into this country with official and unofficial ports, therefore, the efforts should not be directed to the innocent but rather the cartels.