Sw Louisiana News

Congressmen Clay Higgins and Seth Magaziner have introduced the Contraband Awareness Technology Catches Harmful (CATCH) Fentanyl Act, aimed at enhancing efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking at U.S. border ports of entry. The proposed legislation seeks to empower the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with advanced technology to better detect and prevent illegal substances from entering the country.

The bill proposes a pilot program that would implement next-generation technology at border checkpoints, aiming not only to curb drug trafficking but also to improve the efficiency of commercial trade. It grants DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the authority to use Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology for screening purposes. This includes detecting drugs, currency, illegal contraband, and individuals smuggled or trafficked into the United States.

"This common-sense legislation gives CBP expanded use of technology to detect and stop narcotraffickers while streamlining legitimate commercial transit at border ports of entry," Congressman Higgins stated. He emphasized the importance of Congressional authority in protecting communities from fentanyl.

Rep. Seth Magaziner echoed these sentiments: "Fentanyl has claimed too many lives, and we need to take stronger action to stop the flow of fentanyl into our country." He highlighted that the bill would enable DHS to deploy cutting-edge technology for this purpose while maintaining smooth legal trade operations.

Senator Cornyn has introduced similar legislation in the Senate, expressing concerns over what he describes as a drug crisis exacerbated by current border policies. "This legislation would help implement new and updated technology used for scanning cargo and vehicles at our ports of entry," he noted.

Ed Gilroy from the American Trucking Association praised the initiative: "The CATCH Fentanyl Act would strike a major blow against fentanyl traffickers by empowering CBP to pioneer and adopt cutting-edge technology."

The introduction of this bipartisan effort signals a coordinated approach toward addressing one of the most pressing public health issues facing the nation today.