Border community reveals what Trump admin still needs to accomplish as crisis calms down: 'Undue burdens'

Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines explained the challenges faced in the wake of a high influx of migrants into the community at times throughout the Biden administration.

"Chaos first, and abandoned second," Lines, a Republican, said of the border under former President Joe Biden, but said it is "controlled" under President Donald Trump.

"Our food bank was impacted, as well as kind of the medical community as a whole, just because of fentanyl," Lines said.

"We've seen a significant impact of fentanyl here in the community. One of my best friends just lost his oldest nephew two weeks ago. The pills are being sold for about $2.50. There needs to be serious consequences for the Chinese and for the cartels that are dealing and pushing this product into the United States," he added.

In 2022, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey placed metal storage containers along some of the gaps in Yuma, which were eventually taken down because of legal action from the federal government. Now, construction of permanent border wall panels in gaps along the border in the area is underway, following a reversal of Biden's policies once Trump retook office.

"As of today, we're starting seven new miles of construction, we're going to continue to make America safe again," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a video posted to X on March 16.

"Every state has been impacted by the human trafficking as well as the trafficking of narcotics. For the last four years, as I've traveled throughout the United States, every single community leader or member of a community has approached me saying that they have never seen such an impact from narcotics and from illegal immigration in their communities, and that their resources to provide for the individuals in their community have been exhausted," Lines said.