Mike Rogers, a U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, stated he will work to “designate the crime cartels as terrorist organizations” due to the fentanyl epidemic in Michigan. Rogers made his statement in a press release on June 4.
“The Biden-Slotkin open border was completely avoidable, but inaction by Joe Biden has brought crime to our neighborhoods, our children dying from fentanyl, and higher social disruption in our schools across America,” said Rogers. “Biden’s election year efforts are too little too late. We must be serious about this problem and I will work to close and secure the border, work with law enforcement to protect our neighborhoods, and designate the crime cartels as terrorist organizations to bring an end to the thousands of deaths they cause here in Michigan. Hard working Michigan families deserve no less.”
President Biden issued an Executive Order on June 4 that would close the border to those seeking asylum if the total number of daily encounters at all ports of entry reaches above 2,500 people and would not reopen until the daily average is 1,500, NBC News reported.
“The Biden-Slotkin border crisis has made every state a border state,” said Rogers in a post on X. “South American gangs are coming into our country and victimizing families right here in Michigan.”
On March 10, 2023, Rep. Chip Roy (TX) reintroduced H.R. 1564, the Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act. The legislation would designate the Gulf Cartel, Cartel Del Noreste, Cartel de Sinaloa, and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), according to a press release from Roy.
Jason S. Miyares, the Attorney General of Virginia, wrote a letter to the Biden Administration urging the President to declare Mexican drug cartels as FTOs. It was signed by 20 state Attorneys General on February 8, 2023.
Rogers represented Michigan in Congress from 2001-2015, according to his website. He served as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and is currently running for election to the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
