Of all the southwest Border Patrol sectors, the Tucson, AZ sector leads the way in migrant apprehensions. In just the first four weeks of January, the sector has reported over 46,000 known migrants illegally crossing the border. This translates into 1,600 per day, on average. While a crisis-level number on its own, this is a sharp decline from the previous high of 80,185. These latest figures are also the lowest since July, when they reported 39.215 encounters.
While the illegals coming over are a big story on their own, the number of drug seizures posted on X/Twitter by Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin is even worse. January 12th, he reported that 124 pounds of marijuana were seized, and six narcotic events were recorded. On the 19th, five narcotic events were reported, but no significant drug seizures. On January 26th, those numbers changed drastically. The sector reported nine narcotic events, as well as the discovery of 8 pounds of cocaine, 7 pounds of heroin, and 2 pounds of Fentanyl.
Smuggling of drugs and people like this is rotting our country from the inside out. We aren’t receiving the support on stemming the tide of illegals from the Biden administration that we deserve. Along with these encounters often comes a heightened risk of violence. Given how underfunded and manned the Border Patrol is, these officers are facing very real risks of death or serious injury every day.
For the Tucson sector, this kind of activity is essentially business as usual. While the numbers might be higher than expected, this remote stretch of border is widely considered to be one of the major hubs for drug trafficking in North America. While Texas reports semi-trucks of drugs at their checkpoints, the backpack-carrying mules run free in this part of the border.
As Biden glosses over the problems in Texas, the cartel and coyotes are responding in real-time and sending more illegals over the border in Tucson. Given how high the numbers are now, it will only get worse as time goes on.
