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Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020

Is there evidence that Trump Administration efforts to build a border wall have reduced illegal drug availability in the US?

Austin Tannenbaum, Gigafact Foundry
no

Illegal drug availability in the U.S. remained persistently high during the first three years of the Trump Administration while it worked to extend and improve a wall along the border with Mexico.

According to Drug Enforcement Administration annual assessments, in 2017 and 2018 heroin availability increased, methamphetamine availability remained virtually unchanged and fentanyl became "widely available."

In 2019, heroin and meth availability increased or remained stable in all 23 DEA field divisions. Mexico remained the "primary source" of heroin in the U.S. and fentanyl availability was "high and increasing."

Any effect from the border wall has been limited. With Congress resisting funding, only 122 miles of barriers had been built by February 2020 along the nearly 2,000-mile border. An additional 280 miles had been completed as of Nov. 16, 2020.

Sources

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