(WASHINGTON) – Attorney General Steve Marshall joined President Donald Trump at the
White House today to brief him on the impact of drug trafficking at and between points of entry
at the southern border.
“I want to thank President Trump for his willingness to listen to state and local law enforcement
on the destructive toll that drug trafficking is taking on our communities and families in
Alabama and elsewhere along America’s southern border,” said Attorney General Steve
Marshall.
“Due to Alabama’s proximity to Atlanta, a major distribution point for drugs, and to Texas, a
border state, Alabama has become a prime transit point for drug trafficking. The reality is that
drug trafficking in my state, and across this country, is largely the result of an unsecured
border. By failing to address this, everybody should understand that we are setting up law
enforcement for failure.
“I also conveyed to the President that drug trafficking drives violent crime. Just in the past year
in Alabama, we have had multiple incidents of violent crime – including crimes against
children – committed by illegal immigrants who were here because of their roles in various
drug-trafficking organizations. Even after being deported, sometimes multiple times, these
criminals return to the drug trade and commit crimes against innocent Alabamians. It is
reprehensible that we let this happen in America.”
Attorney General Marshall represented the nation’s state attorneys general and state law
enforcement in today’s briefing with the President. The Attorney General has been an
outspoken supporter of the Trump Administration’s efforts to construct a border wall along the
U.S. frontier with Mexico as an effective barrier to block drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Other participants in the White House briefing included, Jim Carroll, Director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy; Carla Provost, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol; officials with the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and Customs and Border Protection; as well as law enforcement
officials from Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas.
Last August, Attorney General Marshall participated in a White House panel discussion on
protecting America’s borders that included high-level officials from Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, as well as governors and senators from other
southern border states.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
