Solving the refugee crisis in the USA is entirely feasible, here’s how

The border has not been secured for the last 20 years because too many politicians lie to you about the complexity of this issue.

We have leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris, the “border czar,” who believes that a lunch at a taqueria in El Paso counts as a visit to the border, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who believes that a tidal wave of 5.5 million people in Our country will flow illegally is the “operational control” of the border.

President Joe Biden is facing a revolt from blue states because his misguided open borders policies are affecting these states in the same way border states have for years.

Mayor Eric Adams believes the raging refugee crisis will destroy New York City, saying he sees no end in sight as the city has welcomed over 110,000 migrants since last year.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in response to the housing shortage for migrants.

But these Democratic officials’ call for expedited work permits is not a solution to this problem.

I’ve spent more time at the border than everyone else running for president combined.

Here’s how a Hurd government will start resolving this border crisis from day one:

Treat human smugglers and drug trafficking organizations as terrorists

The Biden administration’s support for open borders drives illegal immigration, benefiting human smugglers at the expense of border communities and smuggling victims.

Human smugglers have made at least $55 billion since Biden took office, and drug smugglers make, conservatively, $40 billion to $60 billion a year bringing illegal drugs into the United States.

To put these numbers into some context, the total budget of the U.S. intelligence community is approximately $60 billion.

The Border Police does an excellent job of collecting “pocket trash” – everyday items such as receipts, notes, cell phone numbers, bus tickets, etc. – from people arriving here illegally, which can be used to dismantle, disrupt and destroy the shelter networks, communication routes and transport channels that provide access to people – and drug smuggling.

An obscure, small, underfunded organization called Homeland Security Investigations is responsible for this task.

We need the involvement of the CIA, the National Security Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction

Last year we lost more than 109,000 Americans to drug overdoses.

That’s more than twice the number of people killed by gun violence.

Nearly seven out of 10 overdose deaths can be attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

This drug, which is many times more powerful than heroin, can cause mass casualties in even the smallest amounts and has parallels to the lethality of chemical weapons.

The measures to prevent weapons of mass destruction from entering our borders – information sharing, advanced detection technologies at entry points, initiatives to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and partnerships with the private sector – are already in place, but must be intensified and adapted to address threats like fentanyl encounter.

Invest in more than just a wall

The FBI’s efforts to track down migrants who entered America with the help of an ISIS-affiliated smuggler aren’t all bad; It is a threat to national security.

Law enforcement is having difficulty finding these people because we have no operational control over our border.

We need more than a wall. We must build a digital shield using cutting-edge technology – drones, sensors and artificial intelligence – to protect ourselves.

The US-Mexico border is 2,000 miles long and every mile is unique.

Some areas such as San Diego and Tijuana are densely populated. Others like Big Bend, the Chihuahuan Desert and Lake Amistad are remote and deserted.

We need to deploy the right solution in the right place – a physical barrier like a wall in dense urban areas and technology like drones and radar in remote areas.

Most importantly, we invest in the men and women of the Border Patrol.

Stop allowing people to abuse the asylum system by treating everyone like an asylum seeker

This process of treating anyone who enters the country illegally as asylum seekers began under the Trump administration, but Biden continued it.

Asylum – a fundamental right enshrined in both international and domestic law – should provide refuge for those who are truly being persecuted, rather than a shortcut to a well-paying job.

The possibility of falsely claiming asylum in order to move in with family members living in the United States is the greatest attractor to illegal immigration.

To secure our borders and protect our nation, we must think beyond physical barriers.

Our approach must be holistic, leveraging intelligence, technology and international collaboration.

It’s not just about keeping threats out; it’s about understanding it from the root and breaking it down.

Instead of using this issue to stoke outrage and raise funds, a Hurd administration would prioritize these multifaceted strategies and secure America once and for all.

Will Hurd is a Republican former congressman and presidential candidate.