Senator Hassan Meets with Law Enforcement Officials Working to Combat Drug Trafficking at the Southern Border

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, last week met with federal law enforcement agents in California and discussed efforts to counter drug trafficking, terrorism, and other national security threats at the Southern border. During the trip, which comes amid concerns about the lawlessness of the Trump Administration's immigration enforcement efforts, Senator Hassan also inspected conditions at an ICE detention facility.

"We need to strengthen security at our Southern border to stop drug trafficking and ensure that we have an immigration system that is orderly and consistent with our values," said Senator Hassan. "I was grateful to meet with federal law enforcement officials who are working to secure our southern border and intercept illegal drugs. I am also deeply concerned by the tactics used by ICE since President Trump took office, which is why I conducted oversight of ICE at a detention facility as the Senate continues to discuss reining in the agency's lawlessness."

Senator Hassan met in San Diego with federal law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to discuss the current state of cross-border crime and threats that the country faces. Later, the Senator visited the Otay Mesa ICE Detention Facility in San Diego, which has been the subject of scrutiny for reports of abuse and neglect of detainees.

During the trip, Senator Hassan also visited the Port of Los Angeles to discuss port safety and security with the Chief of the Los Angeles Port Police, with a focus on efforts to intercept illegal drugs and prevent terrorism. The Senator also met with officials from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Organizing Committee to discuss how they are preparing for security at the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

Senator Hassan's visit is part of her efforts to strengthen border security. Senator Hassan leads bipartisan legislation to increase inspections of traffic crossing the border from the U.S. to Mexico to stop the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuels drug cartels. She also has introduced bipartisan legislation that has previously advanced through the Senate Homeland Security Committee that would allow U.S. and Canadian personnel to jointly patrol both sides of the northern border on aircraft, helping to more effectively combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. Additionally, last year, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, a bipartisan bill backed by Senator Hassan that empowers law enforcement with research, information, and technologies to find and eliminate illegal deadly drugs, was signed into law.

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