Scott Walker, former Governor of Wisconsin, said that enhanced border security provisions in the House tax bill would help curb the trafficking of fentanyl and other threats. The statement was made on X.
“Secures our border by finishing the wall, improving front line agents, and deporting the worst of the worst,” said Walker. “This will stop the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities. While keeping those trafficking drugs, guns, and humans out of our country. Now, we need to pass it in the Senate.”
In May 2025, the U.S. House passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), a comprehensive legislative package that includes tax reforms, border security funding, and Medicaid changes. According to Reuters, the bill aims to make Trump-era tax cuts permanent, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, allocate $150 billion for immigration enforcement including $46.5 billion for a border wall, and impose new fees on asylum seekers. The bill faces significant challenges in the Senate due to divisions among Republicans over its $3.8 trillion projected cost and potential cuts to safety-net programs.
Fentanyl trafficking remains a major focus of border enforcement efforts. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported seizing over 760 pounds of fentanyl in April 2025. USAFacts and KPBS indicate that more than 90% of fentanyl seizures occur at legal ports of entry, often involving U.S. citizens rather than migrants. This trend underscores the complexity of border security issues, where legal crossings are the primary points for fentanyl smuggling.
While border apprehensions remain high, fentanyl trafficking is not primarily linked to illegal crossings. FactCheck.org and the Cato Institute report that most fentanyl seizures between 2019 and 2024 occurred at ports of entry and involved U.S. citizens. In FY2024, there were over 1.5 million Border Patrol apprehensions; however, drug trafficking patterns suggest that legal entry points are more directly associated with fentanyl transport.
Walker served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019 and is affiliated with the Republican Party. According to Britannica and the National Governors Association, he previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as Milwaukee County Executive. During his tenure, Walker implemented controversial labor reforms such as limiting collective bargaining rights and pursued national conservative priorities including tax cuts and education reform.
