Dear Mr. Speaker,
I would like to draw your attention to a matter of utmost importance - the alarming situation at our southern border, a concern recently highlighted by former intelligence officials and professionals who sent you a letter. Their warning emphasizes the infiltration of large numbers of military-age men, originating from countries with hostile intentions towards the United States.
While the focus has rightly been on the severity of the fentanyl crisis, it appears that the true extent of its impact has not been thoroughly calculated. Fentanyl, an extremely lethal drug, has already made its way into the U.S. through the open southern border. Recent data from Insightcrime.org (November 21, 2023) reveals record-high seizures of illicit fentanyl along the US-Mexico border. In the fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Protection agents confiscated 12,119 kilograms (26,718 pounds) of the synthetic opioid, marking an alarming 90% increase from the previous year.
To put this into perspective, the seized fentanyl amounts to a staggering 12 billion milligrams, with a lethal dose being only 2 milligrams. This implies that the amount seized along the southern border in just one year could potentially result in the deaths of 6 billion people. Adding the fentanyl seized in the prior year, 2022, further exacerbates the gravity of the situation, potentially having enough to endanger every person on Earth. Notably, these figures only account for seized quantities, and the actual amount that has slipped through the border undetected remains unknown.
The implications of this crisis are severe, warranting urgent attention. The current situation demands a comprehensive assessment of the threat and immediate action to address it. With these facts in hand, it is crucial for you to inform the American people about the true dimensions of the foreign invasion and the severity of the border crisis.
Sincerely,
- a concerned citizen