The Importance of a Secure Southern Border for Our Communities

As members of the Native Americans for Sovereignty and Preservation, we understand the importance of protecting our communities and preserving our way of life. One issue that directly impacts our safety and sovereignty is the security of the southern border.

The Threat of Illicit Substances

The influx of illicit substances, such as fentanyl, poses a significant threat to our communities. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been linked to a surge in overdose deaths across the country.

The PBS article reports a significant increase in fentanyl cases in Arizona, with the substance now being the most common in opioid overdose deaths in the state. An expert on drug trends attributes the surge in overdoses to the drug’s potency and addictiveness, as well as its widespread availability due to trafficking by cartels. The expert also emphasizes the risk to children, as fentanyl can be disguised in various forms, including substances that resemble candy.

In Arizona, where 22 tribes reside, the impact of the opioid crisis, including the surge in fentanyl use, has been devastating. In addition, the proximity to the southern border, a major route for drug trafficking, exacerbates the problem.

We Had Borders – It Was Our Native Languages

We are reminded that our own languages played a significant role as cultural and geographic markers for pre-contact Indigenous peoples in the Americas. These languages acted as unique and distinct forms of communication that often defined tribal or community boundaries. They served as a means to preserve and transmit cultural heritage, traditions, and collective knowledge.

Research by linguists like Lyle Campbell, Marianne Mithun, and Ives Goddard suggests that languages indeed played a significant role in delineating cultural and social boundaries among pre-contact indigenous communities in the Americas.

The linguistic diversity among Indigenous groups reflected the vast array of distinct cultures and societies that thrived throughout the Americas, emphasizing the importance of languages as both cultural identity markers and tools for establishing territorial boundaries.

Protecting Our Children

A secure border is crucial for the protection of our children. Trafficking is a grave concern, with vulnerable children often being the victims. 

Illegal border crossers pay Mexican cartels for passage across the Rio Grande. These victims – sometimes women and children – are locked into a system that ensure that no one crosses for free.

Human trafficking, including the trafficking of women and children, is a severe issue globally and in the United States. Due to its proximity to the southern border, Arizona is often considered a high-risk area for human trafficking.

Environmental Impact

The litter and garbage left behind by illegal border crossings also have a significant environmental impact. This affects the natural beauty of our lands and can disrupt local ecosystems. 

Recent drone footage shows large amounts of trash and clothing discarded at a common crossing point for migrants near Normandy, Texas. The waste left behind includes human waste, backpacks, medical products, plastic, vehicles, and clothing, which pose risks to wildlife. This issue has raised concerns about the long-term environmental impact of unchecked migration across the border. In fiscal year 2022, there were nearly 2.4 million migrant encounters at the southern border, a new record high.

The Impact on Our Communities

The issues associated with an open border extend beyond these immediate concerns. They can lead to increased crime rates, the strain on local resources, and a general sense of increased unsafety within our communities. There is a considerable financial and human cost of illegal immigration in the United States. Illegal immigration costs taxpayers billions of dollars annually, with states like Illinois spending $4.59 billion in 2022. The costs to border states like California and Texas face annual costs of $21.76 billion and $8.88 billion due to education, healthcare, law enforcement, and welfare expenditures related to illegal immigration. A human cost is associated with heightened crime levels, with crimes committed by illegal aliens skyrocketing over the past two years. 

The Real Dangers of an Open Southern Border

• Fentanyl Trafficking: The DEA’s 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment highlights that Mexican cartels are the primary source of fentanyl in the U.S., with the majority of the drug entering the country through the southern border.
• Terror Watch List: The CBP Enforcement Statistics show encounters with individuals on the terror watch list at the southern border, indicating potential security threats.
• Human Trafficking: According to Polaris Project, human trafficking is a significant issue at the U.S.-Mexico border, with victims often being exploited for labor and sex.
• Crime Increase: The CBP Enforcement Statistics show an increase in criminal activity related to the southern border, including drug smuggling and illegal crossings.
• Local Funding Challenges: Border counties often face financial challenges due to immigration-related costs. The National Association of Counties provides more information on this issue.

The Need for Sovereignty and Preservation

As Native Americans, we have a right to sovereignty and preservation. This is a border crisis. A secure southern border is crucial to maintaining our sovereignty and ensuring the safety and preservation of our communities. 

We ask that there be a more robust effort to reduce the number of illegal crossings while also trying to message potential border crossers not to attempt the journey.

A secure southern border is not just a political issue but a matter of safety, sovereignty, and preservation for our communities. We urge our members and allies to understand these issues and advocate for a secure southern border.