Reps. Kelly, Zinke lead 28 House Republicans announcing 'Northern Border Security Caucus' to combat human & drug trafficking along U.S.-Canadian border

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) announced the new "Northern Border Security Caucus," a coalition of 28 Members of Congress who are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking, along with the decrease in Border Patrol agents and lack of security, along the U.S.-Canada border.

The U.S.-Canada border is the longest international border in the world. Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the Northern border.

Reps. Kelly & Zinke will serve as co-chairs of the Northern Border Security Caucus. Fox News first reported about the Caucus on Friday.

The Northern Border Security Caucus, which all House Republicans & Democrats were invited to join, is supported by House Republican Leadership and the National Border Patrol Council, among other groups and organizations.

As their first initiative, members of the Northern Border Security Caucus sent this letter to Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warning him of surging human and drug trafficking from Canada into the United States and demanding him to secure the Northern border.

“The numbers don’t lie: the Biden administration’s open-border policies have allowed for a surge in human and drug trafficking across the U.S.-Canadian border, the longest international border in the entire world,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Northern Border Security Caucus Co-Chair. “Over the last two years, every state has become a border state. I’ve spoken with Border Patrol officials in my home state of Pennsylvania who tell me they are pulling double duty – they are digitally processing migrants who are apprehended at the Southern border while now also trying to defend the Northern border. Migrants and smugglers are seeking alternative routes into the United States, and the Northern border is increasingly their first stop. Our goal is to provide commonsense, practical solutions that will increase security across all of America’s borders.”

"The first thing bad guys do is go where the good guys aren’t," said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Northern Border Security Caucus Co-Chair. "Right now, all our good guys are dealing with Biden’s crisis on the Southwest border leaving the north unprotected and vulnerable to criminals, cartels and terrorists. "By establishing the caucus, we will provide critical oversight and expose the truth to the American people about the nationwide crisis this administration has willingly caused."

“Every state is a border state, and every district is a border district due to Joe Biden’s failure to secure our borders," said Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), House Republican Conference Chair. "As I have warned for the past two years, Joe Biden’s failure to secure the Southern Border has brought his crisis home to my district along the Northern Border. This can no longer be ignored, and I am proud to join the Northern Border Security Caucus to hold the Biden Administration accountable for the illegal immigrants and drugs he has allowed to pour into Upstate communities. Through my work on the Northern Border Security Caucus, I will work to provide a critical check on the Biden Administration to create a nation that is safe by securing our borders to on behalf of our brave border patrol and Upstate communities.”

“For the last two years, America has been faced with record levels of illegal drug and human smuggling," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX). "Although these issues have primarily affected places like my district along the southern border, we are now seeing illegal activity skyrocket in the northern U.S. If any one entry point is vulnerable, our national security is at risk. That is why I am proud to join the Northern Border Security Caucus and advance our mission to reinforce our borders, support law enforcement and create a safer America.”

“There’s been an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase across the North Country alone," said Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY). "Under President Biden’s failed leadership, our borders are less secure and our communities are at risk. The Northern Border Security Caucus is needed now more than ever for members of Congress to come together with one voice to advocate against Joe Biden’s reckless policies and to focus on delivering the resources personnel at our Northern Border need to do their jobs effectively.”

“I want to personally thank Congressmen Kelly and Zinke for organizing Northern Border Security Caucus," said Brandon Budlong, President of the Buffalo Sector of the NBPC. "Border Patrol has an incredibly difficult mission on our Northern Border.  We operate in some of the difficult terrain in the country and are stretched razor thin from a manpower perspective.  I firmly believe that this caucus will serve a forum to focus on the unique challenges we face securing our 5,550 mile land and water border with Canada.”

“Our northern border is facing an unprecedented crisis,” said Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI). “We all know the chaos that is consuming the southern border, and because of the challenges down there our northern border has been left exposed. Since President Biden has completely failed to secure America’s borders, we are establishing the Northern Border Security Caucus to pick up the pieces he has left behind. I am proud to be a part of this group that will work tirelessly to find solutions and secure our border once and for all.”

“Business is booming for cartels smuggling humans and drugs across the open Southern border so it would be ridiculous to think that they wouldn’t expand their operations to the North,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23). “You don’t have to be a betting man to be able to predict that this was going to happen when the Administration is projecting a giant neon sign declaring “we’re open” with no consequences. We need to stop this now, before it balloons even more out of control—the security of our citizens and our nation are at serious risk. I am proud to join this caucus with colleagues who have communities on our Northern border.”

“Strong borders are critical to our nation’s safety and sovereignty,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT). “I’m proud to join the Northern Border Security Caucus to stand for Montanans and hold the Biden Administration accountable.”

NORTHERN BORDER FAST FACTS

• Drug smuggling has increased by 596% along the Northern border since
  Fiscal Year 2021, including a 26% increase in fentanyl.
• Since President Biden took office nearly two years ago, there has been a 1,498% increase in
  Northern land border encounters.
• In January 2021, there were only 997 Northern land border encounters that month. Since,
  that number has skyrocketed each month. In the month of October 2022, there were
  15,938 Northern land border encounters. In FY2020, there were 32,376 border encounters. In FY2022, there were 109,535 encounters.
• Border Patrol staffing remains flat since FY2009. Since FY09, staffing levels along the Northern border sectors have been between 1,887 and 2,263 personnel. FY2020 Northern border sector staffing was 2,019.
• The longest international border in the world, measuring 5,525 miles, the U.S. Northern border has only 115 ports of entry with no performance measures to assess security between ports.