On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Congressman Eric Sorensen announced that two National Police Organizations, the National Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association of Police Organizations, endorsed his bipartisan “Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act,” which he introduced earlier this year. This legislation will provide U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the funding, staff, and technology they need, to keep our communities safe and combat the growing fentanyl crisis.
“When I visited the southern border this past April, I heard directly from our Law Enforcement Officers that work around the clock to keep our border secure,” said Sorensen. “They need more resources to patrol the border and stop the deadly flow of fentanyl, that is hurting Illinois families. That’s why I helped introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure Border Patrol Officers have the tools they need to keep us safe. I am grateful to have both the National Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association of Police Organizations on our side, as we work to pass this bill and support Illinois families hurt by the fentanyl crisis.”
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 3261 people in Illinois died from an opioid overdose in 2022. In Rock Island County alone, nearly 67% of all fatal overdoses are related to fentanyl-laced opioids in recent years. These numbers continue to grow, according to the Rock Island County Coroner. So far, in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration has seized more than 17.9 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and 1830 pounds of fentanyl powder across the entire Country.
The National Fraternal Order of Police is the world’s largest organization of sworn Law Enforcement Officers, with more than 373,000 members in more than 2200 lodges. The National Association of Police Organizations is a coalition of Police unions and associations that represents more than 1000 Police units and associations, and more than 241,000 sworn Law Enforcement Officers.
Sorensen introduced this bipartisan bill alongside Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). The bill also focuses on preventing the illegal exportation of goods, currency, and firearms–which are often linked to drug trafficking.
Sorensen has been a strong advocate for securing our southern border, by proposing legislation to increase the number of CPB Officers at legal points of entry, proposing legislation to bring Federal agencies together in the fight to stop the spread of fentanyl, and helped launch the House Democrat’s Border Security Task Force.