LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As southern border turmoil continues to build, Michigan shoulders part of the burden as more drugs, including fentanyl, are confiscated. 

In 2023, the Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration confiscated more than 1,100 pounds of fentanyl, which according to federal authorities was 70% more than it obtained the previous year. 

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One of the sources for this deadly drug is the southern border, which has become a legal battle ground as Texas law enforcement begins increasing security measures. 

Last week, the Supreme Court granted a request from the Biden administration to allow federal Border Patrol agents to cut or remove razor wire installed by Texas along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Texas takes matters into its own hands.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) laid out his reasoning for increased border security, beginning with how the federal government has broken its compact with the states. 

“The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now,” Gov. Abbott said in a  statement. “President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them. The result is that he has smashed records for illegal immigration.” 

Even after sending multiple letters to President Biden, Gov. Abbott said that he “ignored Texas’s demand that he perform his constitutional duties.” 

In his letter, the Texas Governor expressed how the President had acted contrary to his duties. 

  • President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress.

Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border.

  • President Biden has instructed his agencies to ignore federal statutes that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants. The effect is to illegally allow their en masse parole into the United States.
  • By wasting taxpayer dollars to tear open Texas’s border security infrastructure, President Biden has enticed illegal immigrants away from the 28 legal entry points along this State’s southern border bridges where nobody drowns and into the dangerous waters of the Rio Grande.

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The cost of the federal government’s approach to the border has resulted in millions of border crossings according to Abbott. 

“Under President Biden’s lawless border policies, more than 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border in just 3 years,” Gov. Abbott said in a statement. “That is more than the population of 33 different States in this country. This illegal refusal to protect the States has inflicted unprecedented harm on the People all across the United States.” 

Nearly half of the country supports Texas’ self-defense approach. 

As of Thursday, 24 governors have signed onto a letter expressing their support for Gov. Abbott, and Texas to defend itself. 

“President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern border,” the letter said. “Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country.” 

The letter shared the other governors’ mutual solidarity with Gov. Abbott and “the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border.”

For a full copy of the letter, and the governors who have signed it, see here. 

One of the latest states announcing support for Texas, was Michigan’s neighbor, Ohio. 

“Ohio will continue to do our part to support Texas and support policies to secure our border,” said Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) on X (formerly Twitter). 

He also shared how the state has been helping with aide since 2020, deploying more than 100 members of the Ohio National Guard to support the border defense. 

“I also deployed approximately 375 Ohio National Guard members to Texas, including Ohio National Guard members who deployed in October 2023 and remain there today,” Gov. DeWine added. “I have also sent troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol to support local law enforcement with border security on two occasions.”

Michigan feels heightened immigrant burden.  

A string of organized robberies from the fall point to a rise in crime from transnational gangs. In Oakland County, there were more than 30 break-ins and according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, it’s a national problem, “but now they’ve found Oakland County.” 

“We’re concerned with people coming here to commit crimes,” Sheriff Bouchard later added that the break-ins could happen in any community. 

A recent report also indicated that Michigan is expecting a 42% increase in refugee arrivals this year and humanitarian groups are trying to rise to meet the need.