CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General is bothered by “a dramatic uptick” in the amount of fentanyl coming into the state, and he says he might end up suing the Biden administration over it.
During a press conference earlier this week, Morrisey said his office has been doing a lot of work regarding fentanyl lately. Also this week, a new federal government report says drug overdoses increased by nearly 50 percent in West Virginia from 2019 to 2020.
“We’ve been talking to law enforcement officials across the state,” Morrisey said. “It’s been a problem, but it’s getting a lot worse.
“We’re seeing a dramatic uptick in the amount of fentanyl that’s flooding into West Virginia. And we’re seeing that a lot of that fentanyl is smuggled overland across the southwest border and through the Mexican drug cartels.”
Morrisey said that shows how the Biden administration’s border policies make their way “back home up to West Virginia.”
He said his office has been in contact with the White House. That includes a letter sent last month urging for changes.
During the July 13 press conference, Morrisey also said he thinks it’s likely the issue will end up in court.
“We think we have an actionable claim as a result of how the Biden administration changed its Remain in Mexico program,” Morrisey said. “The Biden administration, unfortunately, has decided not to prioritize the fentanyl growth and the drug cartel problem, and we need to make sure we change that.
“When we go to court, or resolve it outside of court, we are going to prevail on this. It’s so critical because we have to stop that flood of fentanyl coming in.”
On June 1, Homeland Security Secretary Alejando Mayorkas issued a memo ending the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy of returning asylum seekers to Mexico until their United States court dates. The policy formally was known as Migrant Protection Protocols.
“We’re working up the papers now, and we’re also trying to engage with this administration,” Morrisey said. “We have to make sure they get it right. I’ve not been impressed so far.”
On June 7, Morrisey sent a letter to Mayorkas criticizing the “Remain in Mexico” decision because it didn’t consider the impact on efforts to stop the smuggling of illegal drugs, such as fentanyl.
“West Virginia has already lost far too many people, including young parents and children, over the past decade to fatal drug overdoses,” Morrisey wrote. “The federal government must secure the border to prevent another decade of senseless death.
“This is a pressing and urgent matter impacting West Virginia and every State suffering from fentanyl abuse and illegal drug trafficking. Lives are being lost every day. There is no time for delay.”