Under Biden, Coast Guard was overwhelmed catching illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “Interdicting Illicit Drug Trafficking: A View from the Front Lines,” Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed how the Biden administration’s radical, open-border policies weakened the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) ability to stop deadly drugs from crossing U.S. maritime borders and allow Middle East drug runners to help fund Iranian terrorism. Sen. Cruz highlighted how the bicameral and bipartisan Coast Guard Authorization Act, cosponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), aims to end the 'catch and release' approach to Middle East drug enforcement and close a loophole so cartels could be prosecuted for drug smuggling via remotely operated sea drones.

In addition, Sen. Cruz thanked Mrs. Jena Ehlinger, a Texas mother, for testifying about the tragic and deadly consequences that illicit drugs like fentanyl pose to American families and communities.

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Today, we are here to talk about stopping deadly drugs from crossing our maritime borders. But you cannot stop illegal drugs from crossing a border if you don’t believe in having them. The Biden administration and former DHS Secretary Mayorkas ignored the painful connection between their open border policies and the devastation wrought by illegally trafficked drugs on families, communities, and our country. Trying to have a country without borders led to an influx of illegal aliens, drug smuggling, sex trafficking, and American lives lost.

“That dereliction of basic sovereignty left the Coast Guard in an impossible position. The Coast Guard has admitted it missed opportunities to intercept drugs because it was overwhelmed chasing and catching illegal immigrants.

“Despite the Biden administration’s disinterest in border security, Republicans were able to make some progress. In the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, I secured funding for a blimp-based radar system at South Padre Island to combat drug runners, poachers, and human traffickers. Today, it is protecting South Texas.

“Similarly, my provision requiring data sharing between CBP and the Coast Guard is streamlining interdiction on the southern maritime border, halting illegal incursions into the U.S.

“In contrast to Democrat ambivalence about the border crisis, President Trump and congressional Republicans are making real gains in border security through the Coast Guard. In the last month, the Coast Guard interdicted a historic amount of illegal drugs. Last week, it offloaded 37 thousand pounds of seized cocaine, worth $279 million dollars. That’s going to make a real difference in keeping communities safe from criminals and addiction.

“But protecting Americans from deadly illicit narcotics extends beyond our borders. We also need to reverse the Biden administration’s dangerous policies in the Middle East, where maritime drug-running bankrolls Iran’s malign activities. Coast Guard cutters recently caught advanced weapons originating in Iran and bound for the Houthis in Yemen, as well as hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamines, heroin, and other illicit drugs from a dhow in the Arabian Sea.

“The Coast Guard and other federal agencies have been catching and releasing Iranian drug runners, meaning there was no consequence beyond losing cargo for financing terrorism.

“Let me be clear: catch-and-release is a disgrace and an insult to those who’ve lost their lives to Iranian terrorism. That’s why I have included language in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025 to empower the Coast Guard and Navy to respond forcefully to dhows running drugs and weapons when they help finance Iranian terror.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we need to pass the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act and end the ‘catch and release’ approach to Middle East drug enforcement. That legislation, which has broad bipartisan and bicameral support, would also close a loophole in the ability to prosecute cartels for drug smuggling on remotely operated drone ships, like the one in the hearing room today.

“We also need to enact the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, which I will reintroduce this week along with Senators Cantwell, Sullivan, Baldwin, Wicker, and Blunt Rochester to ensure the Coast Guard is no longer the only armed service that goes unpaid during a government shutdown. As I have said before, the Coast Guard must be paid—without question and without delay.

“Finally, today we will hear powerful testimony about the unthinkable damage caused by illicit drugs like fentanyl to American families.

“Texan Jena Ehlinger will testify about the effects this crisis had on her own family. I’m grateful she is here today as she works to turn tragedy into progress and I look forward to hearing from Mrs. Ehlinger and the rest of our witnesses about what law enforcement needs to protect our communities.

“Another American life lost to fentanyl is one too many. I know Ranking Member Cantwell agrees on this point and that’s why we’re working together on legislation to stop illicit fentanyl smuggling in the United States. I’m grateful for her partnership on this endeavor, and now turn to her for an opening statement.”

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