‘The cartel is in charge’: Oregon Republican lawmakers tour U.S.-Mexico border
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A group of 15 Oregon Republican lawmakers toured the United States-Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona on Monday, aiming to bring awareness to how issues at the border are also impacting Oregon.
“Though Oregon is not a border state, it still faces the consequences of America’s wide-open southern border,” the lawmakers said in a press release announcing the trip.
The lawmakers toured the border with the Border Security Alliance advocacy group and Arizona officials to learn more about illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.
Officials told KOIN 6 News this was not a taxpayer-funded trip, noting most of the lawmakers are returning to Oregon on Wednesday.
$1.3B Powerball winner is Laos-born immigrant battling cancer
“After seeing the human tragedy at the border in Yuma, Oregon Republican legislators are reviewing options for legislation to continue to stem the tide of dangerous and deadly drugs. Every state is now a border state. It’s time to get serious about making Oregonians safer from the Democrats’ disastrous policies at the border,” said Sen. Tim Knopp (R-27.)
In addition to Sen. Tim Knopp, other Oregon attendees include Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville), Sen. David Brock Smith (SD-01), Rep. Christine Goodwin (HD-04), Sen. Kim Thatcher (SD-11) and Rep. Fred Girod (HD-09.)
“One of the most scary things that I’ve learned today is that we have we have some border wall, we have some process to try to process the immigrants that come into the U.S. But the reality of what’s happening down here real time is the cartel is in charge. The cartel is the one that is pushing people across the border in droves,” Rep. Breese-Iverson told KOIN 6 News on Monday.
Drone footage reveals extent of Steel Bridge train derailment
Ahead of the tour, Breese-Iverson said, “Here in Oregon, Republicans are choosing to be a proactive part of the solution. We cannot merely recriminalize drugs and expect the drug addiction and overdose crisis to go away. Oregon Democrats think they can bury their heads in the sand and let it be someone else’s problem, but we disagree.”
Rep. Goodwin added that Oregon is heading in the right direction after moving to re-criminalize drugs, handing out greater penalties for drug dealing and requiring addiction treatment.
Goodwin and Breese-Iverson said during the next legislative session, they want to ensure law enforcement and district attorneys have resources to help get drugs off the street.
‘Mega-rare’ bird spotted at Oregon’s Hug Point is first sighting in U.S. history
“What we want to bring back is awareness. We want Oregon to understand exactly what’s happening in Arizona is affecting what we’re doing in Oregon,” Breese-Iverson said. “The more that we’re aware of what’s happening in Arizona, the better we can deal with what’s going on.”
‘A cheap stunt’
Commenting on the border tour, Oliver Muggli, the Executive Director of the Senate Democratic Leadership Fund told KOIN 6 News, “This is a cheap stunt that proves Republicans care more about MAGA politics than solving the drug crisis in Oregon. Democrats led a major overhaul of the state’s drug policy this year to make our communities safer, and we are still working hard on more solutions. If these politicians were serious about doing their jobs, they’d be here rolling up their sleeves with us, instead of taking a vacation to play cowboy on the border.”
To address the addiction crisis, Oregon lawmakers recently passed House Bill 4002, which rolled back parts of the voter-approved Measure 110, a measure that decriminalized hard drugs.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed HB 4002 April 1, giving people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment includes completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
