NOGALES — Attorney General Kris Mayes today joined Representative Ruben Gallego and Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway for a press conference calling on Congress to pass legislation to address the crisis at the border. The Attorney General also renewed her call for Congress to fund critical technology needed to detect fentanyl at ports of entry before it can end up in communities in Arizona and across the nation.
"Arizona has been flooded with cheap and deadly fentanyl – with over half of the fentanyl seized in the United States in recent years being seized in Arizona," said Attorney General Mayes. "Sadly, extremists in Congress continue to obstruct legislation that would better fund border security and keep fentanyl out of our communities. I am grateful for Representative Gallego and Sheriff Hathaway's leadership on this issue. If we work together, we can combat this crisis, secure our border, and protect the people of Arizona."
"Border communities across Arizona need the necessary resources to keep Arizonans safe, keep our economy growing, and ensure the humanitarian rights of migrants are respected," said Rep. Ruben Gallego. "Tragically, extremists in Congress blocked the best bipartisan border security bill our nation has seen in years. That's not right, and it's why we gathered in Nogales to remind Arizonans that leaders like Attorney General Mayes, Sheriff Hathaway, and me are fighting to keep Arizona's border secure."
Attorney General Mayes has made fighting the fentanyl crisis a top priority since taking office last year. In January, the Arizona Attorney General's Office announced a major fentanyl seizure, taking over a half-million fentanyl pills off Arizona's streets.
"Because of the actions of the Mexican drug cartels, Arizona now serves as the fentanyl funnel for the rest of the nation," continued Attorney General Mayes. "This devastating public health crisis has wrecked communities, harmed families, and pushed drug overdose deaths to astronomical heights. It is ridiculous that technology that would help prevent the flow of this drug into our country sits unused because of Congressional inaction."
In addition to enforcement actions, the Attorney General's Office is also focusing its efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis on prevention and awareness.
In January, Attorney General Mayes announced a PSA contest on fentanyl awareness for college students across Arizona. This effort aims to educate and engage the public, especially youth, about the dangers of fentanyl. More information on this initiative is available here.
In December, the Attorney General's Office announced the distribution of 55,000 naloxone kits to several Arizona counties. This initiative is funded through Arizona's allocation of national opioid settlement dollars. More information on opioid settlement dollars is available here.