GOP Mocked for Pointing Out Massive Fentanyl Seizures at Border Under Biden

The Republican Party is facing Twitter for appearing to criticize President Joe Biden over a large amount of fentanyl being seized at the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Monday, @GOP tweeted that "621 pounds of deadly fentanyl was seized at the southern border in June alone."

The GOP has sought to cast Biden as weak on issues of immigration and border security as drugs smuggled across the border are considered to be a key driver of the opioid crisis that claimed the lives of 68,630 people in the U.S. in 2020 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the GOP's latest critique of Biden's border policy appeared to fall flat for many on social media.

Critics of the GOP tweet pointed out that border protection agents seizing the large quantity of drugs could be seen as proof that Biden's border policies are working, as they prevented them from entering the U.S.

"The operative word here is 'seized.' How do you not get this? Are you all really that stupid, or do you think we are?" tweeted Jon Cooper, who formerly served as a legislator for Suffolk County, New York.

"Do they not understand how this works?" tweeted Mary Trump, the niece of former President Donald Trump.

Actor Devon Sawa tweeted: "621 pounds seized?!! Amazing numbers by the Biden administration. Well done."

Fentanyl seizures have increased

U.S. Custom and Border Protection agents have seized massive amounts of fentanyl, according to CBP data, which goes back only to 2019, and includes fentanyl seized at all ports of entry, not just the U.S.-Mexico border.

In 2019, CBP agents seized 2,800 pounds of fentanyl, a number that grew to 4,800 pounds in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fentanyl seizures notably began to surge in summer of 2020 with Trump still in the White House.

In 2021, Biden's first year in office, the amount of fentanyl seized by CBP agents skyrocketed to 11,200 pounds—more than the previous two years combined—according to CBP data.

So far in 2022, 8,400 pounds of fentanyl have been seized. If the trend continues, the quantity of fentanyl seized by CBP could surpass that of 2021. There is no way to tell how much fentanyl was brought into the U.S.—just how much was stopped.

Republicans have used the increased fentanyl seizure as a political attack on Biden, who has received low marks on immigration and border security issues, polling found.

But the issue is more complicated than being tied only to U.S. policy. NBC News reported in June 2021 that fentanyl has become more popular among drug cartels as its small size makes it easier to smuggle into the U.S. Heightened demand could also contribute to the increased seizures, as experts warned that the pandemic worsened the opioid crisis.