Monroe Review

LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino has called for a Senate hearing on his resolution addressing the escalating border crisis and its impact on local communities in Michigan and throughout the country. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Bellino emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The Biden administration’s failure to enforce immigration policies has allowed fentanyl to saturate our communities and claimed the lives of too many Americans."

Expressing his personal connection to the issue, Bellino revealed, "This issue is deeply personal to me. I, myself, know six people who have died of fentanyl overdose." The senator highlighted the alarming statistics related to the influx of illicit fentanyl into the U.S., stating that "more than 27,000 pounds of fentanyl was seized at the border in 2023 — an 860% increase compared to 2019."

Bellino, a Republican from Monroe, emphasized the non-partisan nature of the resolution, stating, "This shouldn’t be a partisan issue." He pointed out that his resolution aligns with a recent bipartisan resolution passed by Congress, urging the Biden administration to take action to address the border crisis and protect American citizens.

Senate Resolution 98, introduced by Bellino, denounces the open-border policies of the Biden administration, condemns the resulting national security and public safety crisis, and calls on the president to reverse these policies. The resolution aims to address the significant increase in encounters with illegal immigrants and known or suspected terrorists along the southwest border.

Bellino's efforts to address the border security issue have gained momentum, with the senator urging the Michigan Senate to follow the bipartisan approach taken by Congress. He emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of communities in Michigan and across the nation.

In his letter to Senate Majority Leader Brinks, Bellino highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, "Since February 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has had more than 100,000 encounters with illegal immigrants along the southwest border each month, with that number surpassing 300,000 in December 2023." He stressed the severity of the crisis by pointing out the increase in encounters with known and suspected terrorists along the border.

The call for a Senate hearing on the border security resolution reflects Bellino's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the escalating border crisis and protecting the well-being of communities in Michigan and across the United States.