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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| As drugs flow across border, new bill would slash traffickers' government benefits |
| 2023-02-15 |
| [FoxNews] Bill from Sen. Blackburn would deny federal handouts for those who smuggle drugs, humans across US border Karla Jacinto never wanted to become a statistic, but at 12 years old she was trafficked in Mexico. She describes the brutal torture she endured for four years at the hands of pimps and criminals, and how she reclaimed her life. On the heels of another record-setting year for illegal border crossings, Sen. Marsha Blackburn is rolling out legislation targeting traffickers' wallets, denying them access to welfare, public housing and other federal benefits. "This legislation ensures that hardworking American taxpayers — already crushed by inflation — are not forced to fund the lifestyles of offenders who are making our country more dangerous," the Tennessee Republican said in a statement provided to Fox News. Blackburn's Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act would ban anyone charged with drug or human trafficking at the United States' international borders from receiving federal benefits including welfare, Social Security, public housing and any retirement, health or disability benefits. Accused traffickers would also be barred from receiving federal grants, contracts, loans and commercial or professional licenses. Suspects who are later acquitted or have their charges dropped would be eligible for back pay of benefits under the act. The act includes smuggling, transporting and harboring individuals within its definition of "human trafficking." Crossings at the southwest border have continued to skyrocket under the Biden administration. Border Patrol agents recorded nearly 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2022, up from about 458,000 in 2020, according to Customs and Border Protection. Revenue from human smuggling operations is difficult to track, but some experts estimate cartels are raking in billions of dollars each year. "For two years, President Biden’s open border policies have emboldened the cartels and caused human trafficking to grow to a $13 billion industry," Blackburn's statement reads. "We cannot continue to incentivize this blatant criminal activity." The vast majority of drugs seized by Border Patrol agents are confiscated at the southern border, according to CBP data. Methamphetamine has been the most prevalent drug seized so far in fiscal year 2023, followed closely by marijuana. Fentanyl seizures have increased nearly sixfold since 2019, with Border Patrol agents finding about 14,700 pounds of the substance last year. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #3 What I was hoping for was a designation of the cartels as terrorist groups. What I received was a bill that Schumer will kill that will remove their SSN benefits. I would hang this bill in my closet next to my flamingo print tie. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2023-02-15 19:56 |
| #2 I would propose that anyone trafficking fentanyl is committing murder I just know that in the liberal paradise of Europe the border police will shoot you if you try to cross illegally into their countries |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2023-02-15 16:09 |
| #1 Why not just killl them …Filipinos style |
| Posted by: ACA JOE 2023-02-15 00:54 |