Alabama Senator Katie Britt has expressed concern over the escalating issue of human trafficking across the U.S. southern border, attributing it to criminal cartels that are reaping substantial profits from this illicit trade. She further asserted that the presence of these cartels is contributing to a surge in crime rates, including murder and drug overdoses.
"The cartels are making record-shattering profits from human trafficking," said Britt, according to X. "Historic numbers of migrants are dying at the border. And fentanyl poisonings and brutal murders are killing hundreds of Americans per day."
In an interview with Fox News, which was later shared on her social media platform, Britt placed responsibility for the crisis at the southern border squarely on President Joe Biden. She said that Biden "stopped all deportations and halted construction of the border wall", along with offering amnesty to "millions" of people. According to Britt, these policies have served as a "magnet" drawing more individuals to cross the border illegally.
Continuing her discussion in the same interview, Britt stated that instances of human trafficking have seen a marked increase under the Biden Administration. She claimed that in 2018, drug cartels were profiting $500 million from human trafficking, but this figure has now escalated to a staggering $13 billion industry.
A 2022 report by America First Policy Institute (AFPI) corroborates some of Britt's assertions about Mexican cartels. The report compares these cartels to international terrorist organizations due to their operation outside typical international norms and infiltration into various sectors of the Mexican economy. It also notes a shift from few major cartels to numerous smaller gangs, which has enhanced their flexibility and adaptability. With annual revenue estimates exceeding $64 billion, these cartels are involved in diverse criminal activities such as drug trafficking and theft from oil pipelines. Furthermore, they play a significant role in synthetic opioid trade - particularly fentanyl - posing a considerable public health threat in the U.S., with most supplies sourced from China.
According to Ballotpedia, Britt serves as the junior U.S. senator from Alabama since her election in 2022. She is an alumnus of the University of Alabama, where she completed her undergraduate degree and law school. Prior to her current role, she worked as an attorney and served as the chief of staff to her predecessor, former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).
