BSA States

“Every State is a Border State”

When our borders are left unsecured, the consequences don’t stay at the border—they ripple across the entire country.

Deadly fentanyl, illicit drugs, and illicit trade flood into communities, fueling overdoses and addiction crises in towns far from the southern border. Human trafficking networks exploit the chaos, turning vulnerable people into commodities and bringing exploitation to neighborhoods nationwide.

Violent crime tied to cartels doesn’t respect state lines—it reaches cities and small towns alike. The truth is simple: an open border endangers every American family, no matter where they live.

That’s why every state is, in effect, a border state.

BSa States

Texas

America’s most pressured border

Texas shares a 1,254-mile border with Mexico—by far the longest of any U.S. state. From the Rio Grande Valley to El Paso, Texas bears the brunt of cartel trafficking, illegal crossings, and border-related crime. Despite historic levels of federal enforcement, gaps persist—exploited daily by transnational criminal organizations and bad actors.

Record Crossings: In 2023 alone, over 1.5 million encounters occurred along the Texas border. Some regions, like Eagle Pass and Del Rio, saw migrant surges in the thousands per day.
Fentanyl Crisis: Texas DPS reports that the state is the top entry point for fentanyl in the U.S. In 2024, state and federal agents seized over 42 million doses—enough to kill every Texan nearly twice.
Cartel Violence: Mexican cartels like the Gulf Cartel and Cartel del Noreste are active just across the river—and increasingly influence smuggling on the U.S. side. Violence, threats to ranchers, and stash house operations are rising across south Texas.
Human Smuggling: In 2024, over 17,000 suspected human smuggling cases were reported in Texas. Migrants are often packed into tractor-trailers or forced to walk through deadly terrain for days.
Port Pressure: At ports like Laredo and Brownsville, agents routinely intercept counterfeit goods, including electronics, vapes, pharmaceuticals, and even weapons—many linked to international criminal networks.
National Security Risks: Dozens of individuals on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended crossing through Texas in the past year, alongside thousands of “gotaways” evading detection.

Texas is ground zero in the border security crisis. When Texas is overwhelmed, the consequences ripple across the nation—fueling overdose deaths, labor exploitation, and crime in every state. The cartels are organized, well-funded, and tech-savvy. Meanwhile, our law enforcement officers and communities are pushed to their limits. We must stand with Texas—not just in words, but in action.

arizona

a national prioirty

Arizona’s 370-mile border with Mexico is one of the most active and dangerous border regions in the United States. From Yuma to Nogales to Douglas, cartels exploit vast deserts, remote mountain ranges, and urban ports of entry to traffic drugs, people, and counterfeit goods. Local law enforcement is stretched thin, with rural counties often left to defend federal territory on their own.

Fentanyl Flood: In 2024, CBP’s Tucson and Yuma sectors seized over 27 million fentanyl pills—more than any other region in the U.S. Smugglers use both vehicle traffic at ports and remote desert routes to bring synthetic opioids into the country.
Cartel Presence: Armed cartel scouts are routinely spotted on Arizona ridgelines. Sheriffs across Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pinal counties warn of cartel “control” over human smuggling corridors, with operatives using encrypted comms and surveillance tech.
Human Trafficking: In 2023, Arizona Border Patrol rescued over 1,000 migrants—many left for dead by coyotes. The true numbers are likely higher due to the vast, rugged terrain.
Counterfeit & Illicit Goods: Arizona ports of entry have seen a spike in counterfeit electronics, vapes, and pharmaceuticals—many linked to Chinese producers and cartel distributors.
Terror Threats: In 2024, multiple individuals on the U.S. terrorist watchlist were apprehended trying to enter via Arizona—part of a record 736 total across all land borders.

Arizona is on the front lines of a national security and public safety crisis. Cartels treat the U.S.-Mexico border like an open lane for trafficking and terror. Every pill, every trafficked person, every drone-operated drop represents a failure of enforcement and a threat to American families. Local officials and residents are doing their part—but they need backup. The time to act is now.

washington

a critical northern frontier

Washington State’s 427-mile border with Canada is a rugged, under-resourced region vulnerable to exploitation. Dense forests, mountains, and waterways create ideal conditions for smugglers, traffickers, and terrorist threats. With only ~2,000 Border Patrol agents across the entire 5,525-mile U.S.-Canada border—averaging one agent per 2.5 miles—areas like Okanogan County rely heavily on sensors, leaving gaps in security.

Smuggling Surge: In 2023, CBP seized 55,100 lbs of drugs (methamphetamine, cocaine) along the northern border. A 2025 60 Minutes report exposed the Sinaloa Cartel’s use of drones and boats to smuggle fentanyl and facilitate human trafficking. The cartel’s ties to Washington, with leaders in Tri-Cities and Sunnyside orchestrating multi-million-dollar drug operations, were highlighted by a 2022 Blaine Sector bust of 110 lbs of methamphetamine.
Terrorist Threats: In 2024, CBP apprehended 361 individuals on the terrorist watchlist at the northern border (70% of all land border encounters). A 2023 interception near Blaine involved an Iranian national with terrorism ties.
Human Trafficking: Blaine Sector reports covert trafficking through forests and the Salish Sea, with 73 arrests in 2023—likely underreported due to sparse patrols.
Tax Evasion: Smuggling of untaxed goods, like tobacco ($3.2M seized at Blaine in 2022), petroleum, and electronics, costs millions and funds crime networks.
Strained Ports: In 2022, the Port of Seattle seized $12.6M in illegal Chinese goods, including counterfeit electronics. A 2024 Tacoma seizure of $75,000 in unauthorized vapes, often laced with synthetic substances, points to organized crime and Chinese Communist Party links.

From Washington’s Cascades to the deserts of Arizona, America’s borders are critical frontlines. The 60 Minutes exposé revealed how cartels exploit regions like Washington, with a 2025 Seattle fentanyl bust linked to nationwide overdoses. Illegal vapes flooding ports further fuel crime and threaten public health. Together, we can secure our nation’s frontiers.

Maine

america’s northeastern gateway

Maine shares a 611-mile border with Canada—longer than the entire U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. With thick forests, rugged terrain, and limited law enforcement resources, Maine’s northern border is a quiet but vulnerable entry point for smugglers, traffickers, and other bad actors. Its ports of entry and vast stretches of unguarded land make the state a strategic target for criminal networks seeking to bypass detection.

Sparse Patrols: Northern Maine is patrolled by a limited number of U.S. Border Patrol agents spread thin across hundreds of miles. Remote areas see long periods with little or no surveillance.
Smuggling Tactics: Criminals exploit unmonitored logging roads, hiking trails, and waterways along the St. John River to move drugs, cash, and weapons. In winter, snowmobiles are frequently used to cross illegally.
Human Trafficking & Illegal Entry: The Swanton Sector—which includes Maine—saw a record number of illegal crossings in 2023, with migrants from dozens of countries attempting to enter the U.S. covertly.
Terror Watchlist Encounters: Several individuals on the U.S. terrorist watchlist were caught attempting to enter through northern border states in 2024. The risk of undetected entries through Maine’s isolated terrain is growing.
Counterfeit Goods: Ports like Houlton and Calais have intercepted counterfeit electronics, unauthorized vapes, and other black-market items linked to international networks with ties to China and organized crime.

Maine may not dominate headlines like the southern border, but its vulnerabilities are just as real—and just as dangerous. The myth that northern states are immune to border threats is not only outdated, it’s dangerous. From synthetic drugs to human trafficking to national security threats, Maine’s border communities are on the front lines. Border security is not a regional issue—it’s a national one.

New Mexico

america’s forgotten border

New Mexico shares a 180-mile border with Mexico—but despite its shorter length, it remains one of the most porous and under-resourced stretches of the southern border. With vast deserts, rugged terrain, and limited infrastructure, New Mexico is a key target for cartels trafficking drugs, weapons, and people. Local law enforcement often bears the burden with minimal federal support.

Under-Resourced & Overwhelmed: Much of the border in New Mexico lacks a physical barrier. Rural areas like Luna, Hidalgo, and Doña Ana counties have few Border Patrol agents and face daily incursions by smugglers and cartel scouts.
Fentanyl Gateway: CBP and state agencies report a surge in fentanyl trafficking through New Mexico. In 2024, thousands of pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized near Las Cruces and Lordsburg—most intended for distribution across the U.S.
Human Smuggling & Dangerous Crossings: Smugglers routinely drop migrants in remote desert areas, forcing them to walk for miles in deadly heat. In 2023, Border Patrol agents rescued hundreds of migrants suffering from heat exhaustion or abandonment.
Cartel Scouts & Surveillance: Cartel operatives occupy mountain ridges near the border to monitor U.S. law enforcement. Using encrypted communications and drones, they direct trafficking routes with alarming precision.
Port Challenges: At ports like Santa Teresa and Columbus, CBP continues to seize counterfeit goods, undeclared cash, weapons, and drugs—pointing to organized crime networks exploiting weak inspection capabilities.
Public Safety Impact: Rural sheriffs report increases in property crime, stash house operations, and high-speed chases linked to smuggling activity. The strain on small-town resources is unsustainable.

New Mexico is too often left out of the national border security conversation—but its communities are paying the price. Cartels treat the open desert as a highway. Border agents and sheriffs are overworked and under-equipped. The state’s vast, empty stretches make it ideal for traffickers—and a dangerous blind spot for national security. If we fail to secure New Mexico, we fail to secure the southern border.