Stop Racist Scapegoating & Fix the Fentanyl Crisis

President Trump’s false claims that fentanyl comes solely from Mexico fuel dangerous stereotypes and ignore the real roots of the crisis. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 86.4% of people convicted for fentanyl trafficking are U.S. citizens, not immigrants (KFF, 2024). Most fentanyl enters through legal ports of entry, often smuggled by Americans, not migrants crossing unlawfully (DHS, 2024). Experts agree the crisis is global. Precursor chemicals primarily come from China before reaching Mexican cartels (Brookings, 2024). Narrowing the focus to just Mexico not only fails to address the real source of the problem but also fosters racism and diverts resources from strategies that could actually save lives. Former DEA Chief Mike Vigil warned that supply will shift wherever it can as long as there’s demand (AP News, 2024). I urge you to reject scapegoating immigrants and to demand a real plan: international cooperation, investment in treatment, and prevention at home. Deporting students, workers, and immigrants without criminal records will not solve the crisis—fact-based leadership will.