HARRISBURG – Newly seated Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33) called upon PA Governor Tom Wolf today to deploy the state’s National Guard to the United States’ southern border.
“Illegal border crossings into the United States are nearing an unprecedented level,” said Mastriano, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and combat veteran. “According to the Department of Homeland Security, illegals who were arrested in the United States over the past several years were responsible for 4,000 homicides, 100,000 assaults and 30,000 sex crimes. The number of Americans murdered by illegals in the United States is greater than the amount of lives lost by American and coalition partners fighting in Afghanistan. If that isn’t a crisis, I don’t know what is.”
Mastriano’s appeal to the Governor echoes a request made by five members of the state’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressmen John Joyce, Guy Reschenthaler, Scott Perry, Lloyd Smucker and Mike Kelly authored a May 22 letter requesting that Governor Wolf help bolster the number of troops at the border.
The Dept. of Homeland Security has reported that cross-border drug smuggling is the greatest threat to the nation. According to a 2018 Drug Enforcement Administration report, drugs are smuggled across the southern border primarily through personally-owned vehicles, tractor trailers and body carriers.
“Opioid trafficking is flourishing at the border and we lack the personnel there to combat it,” said Mastriano. “Many of these opioids are being funneled from Mexico to Pennsylvania, and it is feeding our statewide epidemic. We should do our part to secure the border and save Pennsylvanian lives.”
“As a soldier who spent more than 30 years defending this nation abroad, I am appalled by the lack of concern for our citizens here in the Keystone State,” said Mastriano. “I call upon the Governor to set aside partisan concerns and to do what’s necessary to protect our citizens.”
Mastriano won the 33rd District Senate special election May 21st and took the oath-of-office Monday, June 10th.
CONTACT: Scot Pitzer (717) 787-4651; spitzer@pasen.gov.