The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) paid a visit to Arizona last week.
Sara Carter, director of the ONDCP, came to address Arizona’s unique situation with its ongoing drug crisis. Arizona was one of few states to experience an increase in drug overdose deaths rather than a decrease in 2025. Not only that: Arizona had the most drug overdose deaths last year.
While drug overdose deaths decreased 31% nationwide, Arizona experienced a 30% increase in drug overdose deaths.
Republican Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) hosted Carter’s visit to Arizona, and Republican Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-02) joined the pair for meetings according to a press release from Biggs. These meetings were also attended by Drug Enforcement Administration officials, tribal partners, local law enforcement, and Angel Families.
Angel Families include all family members of individuals victimized or killed by criminal illegal aliens. Nearly all of the Angel Families in attendance last week were those whose loved ones fell victim to the crimes and violence resulting from drug cartel activity.
Eight of those families testified at a roundtable hosted at the Arizona State Capitol on Friday. These families claimed that the deaths of their loved ones were preventable through stricter immigration enforcement policies.
Among those to testify were Mary Ann Mendoza, who recounted how her son, Mesa police officer Brandon Mendoza, was killed in 2014 by an illegal alien drunk driver who had a criminal record dating back to 1994 and was living as a fugitive at the time of the crash.
Doug and Patricia Quets shared how their adult son Nicholas Quets, a Marine veteran, was murdered by Sinaloa cartel members in 2024.
Fernando Basurto explained that his grandson, Fernando Jose Basurto Jr., was about to graduate high school and had plans to enter the Air Force when he was murdered by a criminal illegal alien in 2016, who had been released shortly prior to the murder. Basurto said that former Sen. Martha McSally initially soured him on Congress because she refused to see their family to discuss Fernando Jose’s murder.
Patti Fox testified alongside her adult daughter, Carissa Aspnes, who was struck and severely disabled by an illegal alien running a stop sign in 2025. Carissa — a second-generation American on her grandmother’s side, a legal immigrant from Thailand — suffered a traumatic brain injury and now requires full-time care. Fox said local investigators initially covered up the fact that Carissa’s assailants were illegal aliens who entered the country under the Biden administration.
Karen Griffin explained that her teen son, Tyler Griffin, passed away in 2020 after taking a pill he believed to be Tylenol, but was actually laced with fentanyl.
Similarly, Anne Fundner shared that her 15-year-old son, Weston Fundner, passed away in 2022 after taking pills laced with fentanyl.
Carter promised to incorporate those suggestions from Friday’s roundtable into legislative proposals and policies put forth by the Trump administration.
Attendees included Reps. Quang Nguyen (R-LD-1), Nick Kupper (R-LD-25), and Lisa Fink (RLD-27); Sen. Carine Wrner (RLD-4); Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko; Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley; and Art Del Cueto, formerly president of the National Border Patrol Council.
As part of its mission to address the drug crisis, ONDCP has taken a special focus on Arizona’s increase in drug overdose deaths, especially those involving fentanyl. It is the belief of the Trump administration, and Biggs and Crane, that the border policies of former President Joe Biden are to blame for Arizona’s ongoing drug crisis.
Carter commended Arizona as taking steps to fight back against the drug crisis.
“These communities know firsthand the devastating impact of illicit drugs,” said Carter. “President Trump and his administration will continue to fight for our citizens until every American is free to live a safe and healthy life, free from the scourge of illicit drugs.”
Earlier this month, ONDCP released a 200-page National Drug Control Strategy for 2026.
Under this administration, Trump has signed legislation classifying fentanyl-related compounds as Schedule I drugs; designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations; designated illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as weapons of mass destruction; and signed legislation expanding the border wall and increasing deportations.
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A dangerous foreign gang has been confirmed present in Arizona.
Last week, NewsNation Network Correspondent Ali Bradley reported that a “25 year-old suspected Tren de Aragua member was arrested for human smuggling in Cochise County, Arizona by the sheriff’s interdiction unit.”
NEW #Exclusive: Add Arizona to the growing list where Tren de Aragua is now present—A 25 y/o year old suspected #TdA member was arrested for human smuggling in Cochise county, Arizona by the sheriff’s interdiction unit—And it wasn’t his first time as the sheriff tells me he has…
Bradley added that this arrest wasn’t the individual’s “first time as the sheriff tells me he has priors for smuggling and organized retailed theft. He told deputies that he entered through the Brownsville Texas port of entry and claimed asylum. The Cochise County sheriff’s gang made the TdA connection.”
Art Del Cueto, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council, confirmed Bradley’s revelation, writing, “They’re here and all they care about is to expand their criminal network and hurt Americans.”
Former President Donald J. Trump visited Aurora, Colorado, for a rally last week, where he shared his proposal to remove the threat of these gang members, who have victimized and terrorized unsuspecting American communities. He said, “In honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, …Rachel Morin, and all of the others that are dead and/or mortally wounded at the hands of migrants who should never have been allowed into our country, I am announcing today that upon taking office, we will have an Operation Aurora at the Federal Level to expedite the removals of these savage gangs. And I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798…to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American Soil.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Former President Donald J. Trump picked up a significant endorsement while campaigning in the Grand Canyon State earlier this week.
On Sunday, President Trump appeared in front of thousands at a rally in Prescott Valley, where he was endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) for his bid for the White House.
On behalf of the 16,000 men and women represented by the National Border Patrol Council, we strongly support and endorse Donald J. Trump for President of the United States.
At the event, Paul Perez, NBPC’s President, said, “If we allow border czar Harris to win this election, every city, every community in this great country is going to hell. The untold millions of people unvetted, who she has allowed into this country that are committing murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries and every other crime will continue to put our country in peril.”
Perez added, “Only one man can fix that. That is Donald J. Trump. He has always stood with the men and women who protect this border, who put their lives on the line for the country.”
Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the NBPC, stated, “Zero question as to who should lead this country. The time to save America is NOW!!”
State Senator Janae Shamp, one of the top border hawks of the Arizona Legislature, responded to the announcement, posting, “They know exactly what is at stake and who can fix it! God bless each and everyone of these men and women for standing for all Americans!”
The endorsement from the NBPC was reported as unanimous for the 45th President of the United States.
According to a press release from the Trump-Vance campaign, Trump promised to “hire 10,000 new Border Patrol agents and ask Congress to immediately approve a 10% raise for all agents, and a $10,000 retention and signing bonus.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The nation’s Border Patrol union is throwing the red flag on Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to the border late last week.
On Friday, Harris visited the border in Douglas, Arizona. After her stop, she posted, “As Attorney General of California, I prosecuted transnational criminal organizations that trafficked guns, drugs, and human beings. I know the importance of safety and security, especially at our border. Today, I visited the U.S.-Mexico border and spoke with Customs and Border Protection officials about our progress to secure our border and disrupt the flow of illegal fentanyl into our nation.”
As Attorney General of California, I prosecuted transnational criminal organizations that trafficked guns, drugs, and human beings. I know the importance of safety and security, especially at our border.
The National Border Patrol Union (NBPC) took exception with many of Harris’ statements on this trip as well as the motivation for her visit. The NBPC “X” account stated, “Vice president Harris has ignored the border problem she created for over three years. She goes down there for 20 minutes for a photo op and decides to repeat some of the things the NPBC has said before. But again, where has she been the last 3 ½ years?”
Vice president Harris has ignored the border problem she created for over three years. She goes down there for 20 minutes for a photo op and decides to repeat some of the things the NPBC has said before. But again, where has she been the last 3 1/2 years?
Former President Donald J. Trump also weighed in on Harris’ visit, saying on Truth Social, “Comrade Kamala Harris, who allowed almost 14,000 MURDERERS to freely and openly roam our Country, is now making a Speech in Douglas, Arizona, trying to say she did an OK job with the Border. She didn’t! She is the Worst Vice President in History, and the Worst Border Czar in History, and people are dying every day because of her. SHE HAS GOT BLOOD ON HER HANDS!”
Before Harris touched down in Arizona, Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the NBPC, opined on the Vice President’s upcoming trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. On his Instagram account, Del Cueto shared a picture of the border wall in Douglas, Arizona, not far from where the Vice President and Democrat nominee for President of the United States toured on Friday, saying, “This is the border in southern Arizona. This is where the wall stopped because the current administration did not want it to continue. This is where our tax dollars are sitting on the side because the current administration did not care enough about Americans to secure borders. This is where President Trump built the wall during his administration to protect American lives. This is where President Trump will finish the wall so it can continue to be used as a deterrent along with policies and help protect our country.”
Del Cueto added, “This is also not the area where vice president is going to visit because she would have to face the reality that she is part of the chaos we continue to see and she is also part of the administration that stopped building a deterrent that would help our country.”
Harris’ visit to the border marked the first time she has experienced the Arizona section of the international boundary in person as Vice President. A few years ago, Harris visited the border in the El Paso Sector.
In April 2021, then-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent a letter to Harris, inviting her to the southern border. He told Harris that this tour would “provide firsthand insight into what Arizonans, law enforcement officials, and migrants are experiencing.” According to Brnovich, this invite went unanswered by the newly minted Vice President, who had served with him as a fellow attorney general from the State of California.
A little more than a month after this initial communication, Brnovich wrote to President Biden about Harris ignoring his invitation, requesting “that she be replaced as [his] ‘border czar.’” He said, “We are now nearly 50 days into her appointment, and Vice President Harris has shown little interest in observing what is happening along the border and has failed to articulate any plan to deal with the devastating effects of this crisis. Instead, she has traveled to other states for unrelated and less-pressing matters. Mr. President, this is a slap in the face to Arizonans who helped elect you both to the highest offices in the land.”
Mark Dannels, the Arizona sheriff for the region of the border that Harris traveled to, had also implored Harris to visit his county to see firsthand the problems that her administration’s policies have caused for communities in the state and elsewhere in the country. He told another Arizona media outlet last month that “it’s very important that [Harris] comes here. Because for three-and-a-half-years, we haven’t seen prioritization, acknowledgment or engagement with Vice President Harris or President Biden.”
Dannels then stated, “For her not to come in the next 78 days … sends a very strong message.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Border Patrol agents are facing increasing dangers as a result of empowered cartels and smugglers.
Last week, the Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council, Art Del Cueto, posted a picture of online messages that contained threats and concerning solicitations about personal information for agents and members of their families.
Del Cueto said, “Unbelievable! #heroesingreen have to get this information through media because the administration and agency doesn’t put anything out to the #bootsontheground…”
The longtime border official added a number of hashtags to stress his point, including “#wherestheintel,” “#nocommunication,” “#theyreallydontcare,” “#excusescoming,” “#stayvigilant,” “#staystrapped.”
The messages shared by Del Cueto include the following:
“We will pay for any addresses of border patrol agents!!”
“$200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent’s address”
“$1k if you get me they mommas address”
“We offer $$$ for information on BP agents”
“Top dollar on good info”
“I’ll post us torturing any bp agent u send”
Ali Bradley, a National Correspondent for NewsNation, shared additional insight from conversations with Border Patrol agents, stating that “the agency says the messages also show the intent to post the torture of BPAs on social media.”
NEW: “We will pay for any addresses of border patrol agents!!”@CBP sends out internal alert to agents after intercepting messages seeking the home addresses of agents and their families with an intent to do harm— The text message obtained by CBP states, “$200 your way if you… pic.twitter.com/98PA8pYdWv
She added, “Agents I talk to are extremely concerned for their safety. While assaults on agents are down from last year, assaults involving firearms are up slightly.”
Last month, a Border Patrol agent in Texas was assaulted by a suspected smuggler, according to reports. Per pictures provided to the media at the time, the agent appeared to have blood on his face and uniform. In its account of the incident, Fox News wrote, “Migrants and smugglers are increasingly assaulting and confronting U.S. border personnel as the dangerous escalations of violence increase along the border.”
In addition to the increasing dangers and threats against them, Border Patrol agents are finding themselves completely overwhelmed due to the onslaught of migrants and drugs pouring across the U.S.-Mexico boundary lines, which has been caused by the policies of the Biden administration. Over the course of the three-year Biden-Harris administration, apprehensions of illegal aliens and drugs have continued to rise to historic levels, with no end seemingly in sight. This issue has led to growing fears of potential terror in the homeland – especially after the Hamas attack in Israel a couple weeks ago and the escalating number of terrorist suspects who have been encountered at the border (in addition to the sheer number of ‘gotaways’ escaping detection from law enforcement).
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
