U.S. Senator Mike Lee from Utah expressed concerns that drug cartels benefiting from smuggling migrants will be incentivized to continue their activities. This statement followed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) announcement of $380 million in funding for communities receiving migrants. Lee made his comments on X on September 3.
"The Harris administration has been taking our money—a lot of it—and giving it to illegal aliens, which encourages more illegal immigration and thus rewards the drug cartels who smuggle migrants into the United States," said Lee, U.S. Senator from Utah.
The DHS announced over $380 million in grants through the Shelter and Services Program to support communities assisting non-citizens awaiting immigration proceedings, according to a press release. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the funds aim to alleviate overcrowding in CBP holding facilities. This follows $259 million in grants distributed in April 2024.
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At the U.S.-Mexico border, smugglers have implemented a system where migrants wear color-coded bracelets as proof of payment for crossing services, according to Insight Crime. These plastic wristbands, often labeled with terms like "deliveries" or "arrivals," are used to track migrants and their payment status. The wristbands help smugglers manage the flow of people through cartel-controlled areas, ensuring migrants have paid the necessary fees to avoid extortion or kidnapping.
According to the Center for Immigration Studies, Mexican cartels' drug trafficking and human smuggling operations gain nearly $1 billion per month. This money is being used to expand operations across the southwest border into the United States.
From fiscal year 2021 through July of fiscal year 2024, there have been 8,515,072 southwest land border encounters, according to Customs and Border Protection data.
Senator Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in Political Science and Law, later clerking for future Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, according to his website. His legal career includes roles in private practice, as Assistant U.S. Attorney, and General Counsel to Utah's Governor. Now, he serves on Senate committees including Judiciary and Budget.
