President Joe Biden issued a new national security memo on July 31 to direct federal agencies to step up efforts to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. The memo aims to enhance information sharing and intelligence collection to combat drug trafficking effectively. President Biden emphasized that the memo will enable the government to combat drug cartels and their associates more swiftly and efficiently.
A senior administration official highlighted that the memo will prompt federal agencies to adapt to the changing strategies of drug smuggling organizations. The administration is also supporting legislative proposals to address the issue, including establishing a nationwide registry for pill press machines and labeling fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I narcotics.
Furthermore, the Biden administration is advocating for increased penalties for drug smugglers and traffickers. They are urging Congress to allocate more funding for hiring additional border security and immigration officials, as well as acquiring new technology for detecting illicit drug smuggling activities.
Despite these efforts, lawmakers have raised concerns about the administration’s approach to border security. Many Republicans have criticized Biden for not doing enough to prevent illegal border crossings and smuggling activities. The House Homeland Security Committee reported a significant number of border encounters and “gotaways” during Biden’s tenure.
In response to these concerns, President Biden signed an executive order in June allowing the Department of Homeland Security to close the border and reject asylum requests if daily border encounters exceed a certain threshold. Recent reports indicate a decline in border encounters at the southern border since the implementation of this order.
Overall, the Biden administration is taking steps to enhance national security by addressing the flow of illegal drugs into the United States and strengthening efforts to combat drug trafficking organizations. Please rewrite this sentence.
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