Protecting Putnam, Defending The Homeland
Last week, we traveled with other law enforcement officials to McAllen and Mission, Texas to see the crisis unfolding at our southern border firsthand. Prior to this trip, we had seen it largely only on television and in the news, but witnessing the humanitarian, public health, and safety crises for ourselves gave us new perspective and insight into how to best protect and serve our communities in Putnam County.
Congresswoman Cammack and her team arranged this trip for law enforcement officials in Florida and we felt it important to attend for a variety of reasons. After the trip, we are even more strongly convicted that we cannot begin to protect Putnam County until we regain control of the situation at the southern border.
First, the continuing opioid epidemic that cities and counties across the country have been combating for several years has direct ties to drugs entering the United States through the southern border in Mexico. Some of the drug crimes we've seen right here in North Central Florida can be tied to the illegal narcotics trafficked through Central America and across our border.
In June, Customs and Border Protection seized over 1,000 pounds of fentanyl—enough to kill nearly two-thirds of the American population. And while the understaffed federal agents are working overtime to maintain order, thousands more pounds of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine have slipped into the U.S. illegally and have made their way to communities like ours.
Another aspect we learned about during our trip was the gang violence and organized criminal cartel activity that takes place at the border. Massive amounts of crystal meth manufactured in Mexico have made their way into our county, organized for transport by the criminal cartels that endanger the lives of our community members. Earlier this month, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office worked with the FBI and other federal partners to make an arrest involving several people responsible for the distribution of these drugs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in ensuring these individuals are brought to justice.
For those who think the border's 1,000+ mile distance makes us immune to the effects of what's happening there, the evidence is only growing stronger that every town, city, and county is a border town. What we can't see can certainly hurt us and that's why keeping our communities safe is our priority as law enforcement officers who have sworn an oath to protect and defend our citizens. Understanding the crimes occurring at the border, which will eventually reach our communities, allows us to prepare our personnel and response units to keep Putnam County safe.
During our trip, we heard about the devastating human smuggling operations that have continued to traffic migrants—and American citizens—in the United States. Already this year, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations Unit has broken up human trafficking rings operating at the border and in the U.S. Several of these rings have ties to Florida, operating around our area and along the major highways that weave throughout our state.
When our deputies respond to calls, we want them to be prepared for whatever it is they encounter. As our border crisis continues to grow, it is our duty to equip them for the obstacles ahead. And until this crisis is under control, we won't stop working for North Central Florida to ensure that our communities are the safest to live, work, and play.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack is the youngest Republican woman in the 117th Congress. She serves on the House Agriculture Committee and House Homeland Security Committee as the lead Republican on the Subcommittee for Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. The Homeland Security Committee has jurisdiction over DHS, CBP, and ICE.
Sheriff Gator DeLoach is the sheriff of Putnam County, FL.