Right-wing rhetoric has caused many Americans to falsely believe that the fentanyl problem in America is exclusively the fault of the Biden administration and the Democratic party’s desire to allow illegal immigrants to enter this country.
You even heard it during the State of the Union this week - as President Biden was solemnly stating that nearly 70,000 Americans are dying of fentanyl poisoning every year now, Republicans shouted “Murder!” and “It’s your fault!” But facts defy the rhetoric.
These figures fly in the face of what we hear from conservative politicians and right-wing media every day. So where do these figures come from? You might be surprised to know, these figures are provided by the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank used to support conservative views on countless issues.
CATO reports the following: Fentanyl smuggling is funded by U.S. citizens. "Over 90% of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not illegal migration routes, so U.S. citizens when crossing legally are the best smugglers."
Bear this in mind next time someone says illegal immigrants and Democrats are responsible for the fentanyl coming into the country. Everyone agrees, the immigration system is a mess and the fentanyl problem is extremely serious - but serious people do not lay blame exclusively on President Biden.
