We’re glad to see U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, speak directly — and forcefully — on several national issues that have significant impact here in West Virginia.
Capito was part of a delegation that recently traveled south of the border to meet with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, urging him to do more in addressing the border crisis, as well as the ongoing drug and human trafficking that is being conducted by Mexican cartels.
The pipeline of drugs is fueled in part by China, which is providing key precursors needed by the cartels to manufacture fentanyl, as well as meth.
“We implored the president to be more aggressive with China to prevent these precursors from coming in to stop, hopefully, some of the manufacturing (of fentanyl) that is occurring with the cartels,” Capito said. “He actually said, ‘I will forcefully talk with the Chinese about the issue.’ Hopefully, we can stop some of the flow or at least slow it down.”
While Capito’s diplomacy is much needed and is a part of the solution, the U.S. must do its part by stepping up enforcement along the border.
A new Department of Homeland Security initiative known as Operation Blue Lotus has already seized more than 200 pounds of fentanyl in just 10 days.
Hopefully, the U.S. will keep this operation in place, because the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs from Mexico is affecting more than just border states. In 2021, 1,134 West Virginians died of a fentanyl overdose, according to state health data.
Capito also talked to the Mexican president about his country’s continued commitment to help stem the flow of illegal migrants who continue to pour into the U.S., a problem that has gotten much worse under President Joe Biden’s administration.
“Mexico has to be a partner with us in not just stopping the flow of drugs, but also the migration issue,” Capito said. “Our southern border, their northern border, is totally controlled by the cartels. We see a record — over 5 million since the president has taken hold — (number of) immigrants flooding into this country. The administration has not done enough, has done very little, to stem the flow.”
Capito continues to be a vocal critic of Biden’s border control efforts, and she believes both countries must do more.
We strongly agree and urge Capito to continue to be a voice of the people — of West Virginia and the nation — in combating these two serious threats to national security and the health and welfare of this nation.