The American Sheriffs Alliance has expressed concerns over the growing influence, reach, and power of drug cartels, which they say will continue to expand unless there are policy changes regarding the border and immigration. This statement was made in a report released in September 2024.
"The cartels' deadly reach, power, and control will only increase without some urgent changes in our border and foreign policies," said Sheriffs Alliance, American Sheriff's Alliance.
According to the American Sheriffs Alliance, which comprises over 3,000 members from the National Sheriffs Association, reforms in U.S. immigration and border security policies are necessary. In a letter addressed to the White House and Congress, the alliance outlined challenges faced by law enforcement due to illegal border crossings and their impact on public safety within U.S. communities. The letter noted that since the start of fiscal year 2021, over 10.5 million illegal entry encounters have been recorded, with more than 8.5 million occurring at the southwest border alone.
In addition to these figures, there have been 2 million "gotaways" since fiscal year 2021—individuals whose identities and whereabouts remain unknown to law enforcement. Many migrants undertake perilous journeys and incur debts to criminal cartels to reach the U.S., seeking better lives or economic opportunities. However, current policies also allow criminals and terrorists entry alongside them. Migrants have arrived from countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen.
The alliance reports that Mexican cartels collaborate with Chinese drug suppliers and exploit current border policies to traffic illegal narcotics such as fentanyl into the U.S. Fentanyl has contributed significantly to an annual toll of 107,000 overdose deaths in the country. "The Mexican drug cartels have further capitalized on open border policies by exploiting and victimizing migrants," said the letter from the alliance.
A separate assessment by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for 2024 labeled fentanyl as the deadliest drug in American history. It said that Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are central to this crisis by producing fentanyl in Mexico and smuggling it into all 50 U.S. states for profit.
The American Sheriffs Alliance represents sheriffs from organizations such as the National Sheriffs' Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, and Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition. The group advocates for policy changes related to immigration and border security aimed at protecting public safety and supporting law enforcement efforts nationwide.
