"Approximately 80% of people prosecuted and convicted of federal drug trafficking offenses were U.S. citizens, according to Tara McGrath, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.
"They are people who have the ability to cross but also are going to be able to slip under the radar," McGrath said.
McGrath dismissed the idea that migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence are the ones primarily bringing fentanyl into the country.
"That narrative is a dangerous misconception because that is not who we are seeing," she said."
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"Experts who study transnational crime also dismissed the popular narrative linking migrants to drug smuggling.
"Mexican drug cartels control virtually all drug smuggling along the border. Putting their product in the hands of desperate migrants risking life and limb to cross illegally is bad for business", said Cecilia Farfan Mendez, an expert on drug policy and organized crime at the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
"It would not make sense to put your merchandise in such a risky situation," Farfan Mendez said.
"Is this migrant going to cross, is he not going to cross, is he going to get stopped, what is going to happen?"
Using legal border crossings is much less risky - particularly in San Diego, she said."
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Is there anything Trump won't lie about.... and then blame some scapegoat while making all Americans pay more for goods and services?