House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Representative Harriet Hageman have sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, seeking information about the impact of current border policies on crime and cartel activity in Native American territories.
The lawmakers state that tribal reservations face challenges due to complex jurisdictional rules and limited law enforcement resources. They claim these factors make reservations susceptible to criminal organizations, including drug cartels. According to the letter, individuals who entered the United States illegally under the Biden-Harris Administration are working with cartels to traffic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, contributing to ongoing opioid issues and violent incidents in Native communities.
The letter also notes that cartel members often recruit tribal residents by offering money for their involvement in transporting or distributing illegal substances. The jurisdictional limitations—where tribal police can only prosecute tribal members and state or local authorities have restricted power on reservation land—are cited as reasons for increased vulnerability among these communities.
Chairman Jordan and Rep. Hageman are requesting data from the FBI regarding these issues. "Read the letter to Director Patel here."
