Bill Overview
Title: Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of illicit drugs into the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. Under this bill, HHS may also restrict migration and imports from a country if HHS determines that the existence of substantial illicit drug smuggling from that country poses a risk to public health.
Sponsors: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
Target Audience
Population: People involved or affected by opioid and fentanyl distribution and use
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill's primary focus is on preventing the introduction of illicit drugs into the U.S., which suggests it primarily aims to impact individuals involved in the drug trade and those who might be consumers of such illicit drugs.
- It affects individuals associated with the distribution and consumption of fentanyl, directly targeting the prevention of harm caused by this substance.
- The legislation would impact border security operations, potentially affecting individuals who migrate legally or illegally across U.S. borders if their travel intersects with the restrictions imposed due to drug-related concerns.
- The bill could affect international relations and trade with countries identified as substantial sources of smuggled drugs into the U.S., possibly affecting individuals involved in legitimate trade and import/export activities.
- The broader community, including families and communities affected by opioid abuse, would indirectly be affected by any possible reduction in the availability of such drugs.
Reasoning
- To reflect a reasonable simulation, we included a mix of perspectives from individuals affected directly by opioids, those involved in cross-border trade, and individuals residing in border states. These groups would have a range of reactions from noticing substantial policy impacts to experiencing no change, depending on their involvement with the opioid crisis or border activity.
- The budget limitations suggest that while substantial, the number of border operations and initiatives to completely cease fentanyl smuggling will be limited by financial resources, impacting only a subset of the entire target population rather than a blanket effect.
- Given the large population estimate affected by opioid use and the indirect effect of the policy, it's important to include interviews from individuals who might only tangentially be affected or not at all, to reflect the diverse impact spectrum.
- Individuals in law enforcement, health care, and community leadership roles are likely to perceive this policy positively, but others, such as immigrants and those involved in non-illicit cross-border activities, might view it unfavorably.
Simulated Interviews
Community Health Worker (San Diego, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy can curb the availability of fentanyl. It would make a huge difference in our community health efforts.
- However, I'm concerned about the implications this might have on border communities reliant on trade and family ties across borders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Customs and Border Protection Officer (El Paso, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could make our job easier by reducing the volume of fentanyl we see crossing.
- I'm worried it might cause slower processing times for legitimate travelers though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Logistics Manager (Detroit, MI)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy affecting border control might slow down our supply chain, impacting our business negatively.
- However, I understand the need to tackle drug smuggling, considering its impact on public health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's devastating to think of more lives being lost to fentanyl.
- I believe stronger measures might save lives, but we also need mental health support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important we're doing something about the drug problem affecting our community.
- However, I'm not sure this policy alone will be enough without bigger systemic changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could potentially reduce the number of overdose cases we see, which is a welcome change.
- I am worried about potential stigmatization and the need for tightly controlled enforcement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Importer (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Restriction on imports might temporarily affect my business operations.
- I hope there are measures in place to minimize disruptions and focus on illegal activities only.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Law Enforcement Officer (Syracuse, NY)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this will alleviate some pressure on our resources which are stretched thin dealing with fentanyl-related cases.
- Success would depend on effective cross-agency cooperation and international alignment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything helping reduce drug availability could significantly impact student lives positively.
- Education and community engagement are also vital parts of the solution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies affecting imports can influence the logistics tech industry unpredictably.
- Efficient targeting will be key to ensure we address drug issues without harming tech-dependent sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $150000000)
Year 2: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $160000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $95000000, High: $170000000)
Year 5: $140000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $190000000)
Year 10: $180000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $250000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the bill is contingent upon accurate identification of countries with significant drug smuggling activities.
- Balancing diplomatic relations while imposing restrictions may affect international trade law and agreements.
- Monitoring and implementation require cooperation between HHS, law enforcement, customs, and international partners.
- Measuring success involves illustrating reductions in illicit drug availability and related public health improvements.