Great Lakes Wire

Mike Rogers, a U.S. Senate Candidate in Michigan, stated that fentanyl is "killing children in our neighborhoods," attributing the crisis to current border policies. Rogers shared his statement with the Great Lakes Wire on May 21.

"The failures of the Biden-Slotkin border agenda aren't confined to the southern border, but are right here in Michigan where fentanyl's killing children in our neighborhoods," said Rogers, US Senate Candidate in Michigan. "Biden and Slotkin have failed to protect our border and our communities from the fentanyl epidemic, I'll get to work on Day One to secure our border."

The Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment labels fentanyl as the deadliest drug in American history, claiming 38,000 American lives in the "first sixth months of 2023 alone." The Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are implicated in facilitating the presence of fentanyl across nearly all 50 US states. They manufacture the drug in Mexico and smuggle it into the United States, reaping "billions of dollars in profits from the fentanyl trade." Their operations span every stage of the supply chain, from sourcing precursor chemicals to manufacturing drugs and managing logistics through a network of collaborators such as international shippers, transporters, corrupt officials, tunnel builders, shell companies, and money launderers.

According to data from the Health and Human Services Department of Michigan.gov, Michigan witnessed 2,738 overdose deaths in 2020. This figure is six times higher than that recorded in 1999 and is primarily attributed to opioids.

The DEA indicates that fentanyl is infiltrating America by being concealed within other illicit substances like cocaine and heroin. Manufacturers often disguise fentanyl to resemble regular prescription drugs. A DEA laboratory analysis conducted in 2023 revealed that "approximately 7 in 10 fake pills contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl (approximately 2 milligrams)," leading Americans to unknowingly consume lethal amounts of fentanyl under the assumption they are taking legitimate prescription drugs.

The DEA’s response initiative to this drug crisis aims to target organizations trafficking drugs into the United States and raise awareness about the presence of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Their objective is to "relentlessly pursue and defeat the two Mexican drug cartels" which have instigated the "worst drug crisis in U.S. history" by disrupting the supply chain and bringing perpetrators to justice.

As per Ballotpedia, Rogers previously served as a U.S. Representative from Michigan's 8th Congressional District and also held a position in the Michigan state Senate. He is currently running as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Michigan.