A Renewed Call for Border Security from Our Tribal Leaders

The fentanyl crisis ravaging Native American communities and the complexities of border security, particularly on sovereign tribal lands, present a multifaceted challenge that demands immediate attention and action. This article synthesizes insights from recent reports by NBC News, The Washington Post, Iowa Capital Dispatch, and NewsNation to provide a comprehensive overview.

Devastation in Native Communities

Native American communities are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the surge in fentanyl and other drug abuse. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is struggling with facilities in poor condition, exacerbating the health crisis. Senate hearings have highlighted the devastating impact of fentanyl, with a 33% rise in drug overdose deaths among American Indians and Alaska Natives from 2020 to 2021. Tribal leaders are calling for more law enforcement and culturally based care to combat drug traffickers targeting their communities.

In a striking exposé by NBC News, Mexican drug cartels have aggressively penetrated Montana, exploiting its vast landscapes and limited law enforcement to flood the state with fentanyl and meth, particularly targeting Indian reservations. The cartels, drawn by the lucrative margins of drug sales far from the border, have not only brought unprecedented levels of crime and overdose to these communities but have also deeply entangled Indigenous populations in their operations. The Biden administration’s border policies have exacerbated the situation, contrasting sharply with the relative stability during President Trump’s tenure. This infiltration has led to significant law enforcement challenges, with tribal lands becoming strategic points for these cartels to expand their deadly trade, leaving a trail of addiction, violence, and despair in their wake.

They Are Not Indigenous Peoples from America

Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates a diverse influx of migrants, with some traveling from distant countries like China and Afghanistan. The Department of Homeland Security recently noted that migrants from over 30 different countries have been removed. In particular, the detention of more than 37,000 Chinese migrants at the U.S.’s southwestern land border in 2023 marks a significant increase, nearly tenfold compared to the previous year. Additionally, from February to April, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered migrants from various countries, including Brazil, Colombia, India, Romania, Russia, and Turkey.

Calls for Federal Support

Tribal leaders have urged Congress to provide more support to address the fentanyl crisis. They highlight the need for federal funding for treatment centers and mental health services. The lack of jurisdiction to prosecute non-Natives committing crimes on reservations further complicates efforts to combat drug trafficking. Tribal leaders advocate for the authority to charge non-Natives in tribal courts and emphasize the importance of culturally attuned recovery programs.

Sovereignty and Border Security

The gap in Arizona’s border wall on the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s Reservation illustrates the complex interplay between tribal sovereignty and border security. Despite efforts to secure the border, this gap remains open due to tribal sovereignty. Border Patrol agents view this gap as a funnel that allows them to work more efficiently, but it also highlights the challenges of securing the border while respecting tribal lands.

A Comprehensive Approach Needed

The situation calls for a comprehensive approach that respects tribal sovereignty, enhances border security, and addresses the root causes of drug trafficking and abuse. This includes:

• Enhanced Collaboration: Strengthening collaboration between tribal, state, and federal agencies to improve reservations’ law enforcement and healthcare services.
• Enhance Drug Treatment: Allocating more federal funds to build and maintain treatment facilities, support culturally based recovery programs, and improve IHS facilities.
• Legislative Action: Consider legislative changes to allow tribes more jurisdiction over non-Natives committing crimes on their lands.
• Respecting Sovereignty: Balancing border security efforts with respect for tribal sovereignty, ensuring that measures do not infringe upon the rights and lands of Native American tribes.
• Help Southern Countries Become Safe: Anecdotal evidence suggests that some relatives and communities welcomed southern migrants fleeing their ancestral homes. These southern migrants must return to their homes, and we must be empathic to these efforts. 

When we vote, which policies eased the path for drug traffickers, intensifying the fentanyl crisis in Tribal Nation communities and beyond, and which ones did not? The answer is clear to us.

The crisis afflicting Native American communities and the border security challenges on sovereign lands demand a conservative response from all levels of government – tribal, state and federal. By comprehensively tackling securing our border, we aim to alleviate the devastating effects of drug abuse and trafficking on Native communities, safeguard our borders, and uphold tribal sovereignty.