South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a coalition of 16 Republican attorneys general supporting President Donald Trump’s actions against drug cartels bringing illegal narcotics into the United States.
“In every corner of America, families are being torn apart by the fentanyl crisis,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Drug cartels are waging chemical warfare on our people and South Carolina stands with President Trump in his mission to defend our borders and our communities. We can no longer allow partisan hesitation or political games to get in the way of saving American lives.”
The coalition argues that the President is using his authority as Commander in Chief to respond to what they call a “foreign invasion” of illegal drugs. They are urging Congress to take steps to address the ongoing drug crisis, which they say is harming families, law enforcement, and public health systems across the country.
In a letter sent to President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the attorneys general highlighted that nearly 22,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in fiscal year 2024. According to their statement, this amount is enough fentanyl to kill the entire U.S. population multiple times over. The group also noted that American deaths from fentanyl now rival U.S. military casualties from World War II.
The coalition states that drug trafficking continues to drive gang violence, human trafficking, and organized retail crime, increasing demands on law enforcement agencies nationwide. The influx of illegal drugs has also contributed to a rise in addiction, overdoses, and infectious diseases.
Attorney General Wilson joins attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia in this effort.
