WASHINGTON – Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed with Sheriff Don Barnes of Orange County Sheriff’s Department (California), who also serves as Major County Sheriffs of America’s Vice President responsible for Homeland Security, the ways the border and fentanyl crises are interconnected and how an all-of-the-above approach is necessary to prevent more American loss of life due to the deadly drug. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

CORNYN: “Having visited with a number of families in Texas—its various school districts—I’ve come to believe that this requires a layered approach. Maybe starting at the kitchen table, with awareness of our children to the threat because none of them take these counterfeit drugs knowingly, at least, knowing that it will take their lives, that it contains contaminated fentanyl.”

“It’s going to require all of us, from parents, families, to school districts and local law enforcement, state and federal law enforcement, and border security.”

“Do you believe that with improved border security, we can begin to stop some of the flow of the illicit drugs coming across the border, including fentanyl?”

BARNES: “Senator, what you described is a very complex system, almost a supply chain that starts in China, using transit going to Mexico—the pill presses.”

“The border, obviously, is going to be the most significant issue, as we shut down the border and the pathway for illicit fentanyl to make its way back into the United States.”

“The vast majority of the large quantities coming across has been, in my experience, are being conducted by Mexican nationals.”