For communities in Southern California, the chief consequence of the Biden-Harris border crisis is the explosion of fentanyl. The fentanyl crisis is ripping families apart, killing over 200 Americans per day and serving as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.

And like many other problems we face, our leading adversary Communist China is the main culprit. As laid out in a recent report, the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for manufacturing, shipping, and profiting off of fentanyl. Our adversary takes advantage of an open southern border to funnel fentanyl into the U.S.

The CCP and Mexican drug cartels profit as Southern California families suffer.

The worsening fentanyl crisis calls for action. I’m proud to have recently been appointed to a newly formed committee in Congress committed to finding solutions to stopping the flow of fentanyl.

The Fentanyl Working Group, a product of the Select Committee on Communist China, is committed to pursuing new enforcement measures to restrict trafficking while strengthening or imposing sanctions on foreign entities involved in the fentanyl trade. While the potential solutions are multi-faceted, the most immediate action to be taken is clear. Secure the border.

Our region sees this issue firsthand. I frequently listen to horror stories from our law enforcement officials regarding the flow of deadly drugs into our communities and households.

The volume of narcotics coming across our border has dramatically increased over the past four years. According to congressional testimony from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, seizures of fentanyl powder increased 676% from the time President Biden took office through 2023. Seizures of fentanyl pills have increased nearly 4,00%.

The materials used to produce fentanyl – known as precursors – are manufactured in China, smuggled across our border, and introduced to our communities via drug cartels. Even more scary, these precursor chemicals often enter the U.S. via our ports in Los Angeles, then are driven down to Mexico and returned to our streets as fully potent narcotics.

Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris Administration does not take the fentanyl crisis seriously – even as family after family suffers the loss of loved ones. If it was on their radar, they would have already shut down the border and with it, points of entry for drug smuggling. Their own policies upon taking office repealed proven, effective solutions for reducing illegal immigration.

Worldwide, bad actors are taking note of America’s porous Southern border. These are the consequences of policies that fail to discourage illegal immigration, at the expense of those seeking to come to the U.S. legally.

Make no mistake, both the President and Vice President own this crisis. Since President Biden put VP Harris in charge of the border early in his term, illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking have surged.

As an immigrant myself who now represents many first-generation Americans in Congress, I will continue to push the Biden-Harris administration to encourage legal immigration while cracking down on illegal border crossings.

Many of my constituents and I came here legally, worked hard, and fought for the American dream. But illegal immigration disrespects the rule of law as well as those seeking to come here the right way. And as we continue to learn, an unsecure border ensures the spread of harmful substances like fentanyl throughout our communities.

Enough is enough. It’s time to secure the border, protect Southern California families, and hold those preying on our communities accountable.

Michelle Steel represents California’s 45th congressional district and serves on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the CCP.

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MURRIETA, CA — The Murrieta City Council Tuesday will consider an ordinance identical to one passed nearly a year ago by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors intended to crack down on catalytic converter thieves by establishing specific regulations and penalties lacking under state law.

“The theft of catalytic converters has been an increasing problem throughout Southern California in recent years, with the city of Murrieta experiencing at least six thefts per month,” according to a statement posted to the council agenda for Tuesday. “The purpose and intent of this ordinance is to curb the theft of converters throughout the city.”

Council members are slated to conduct an initial hearing on the proposal, Ordinance No. 606-24, and if approved, it would return for a second reading and final approval next month.

The measure is identical to one approved by the county Board of Supervisors for application throughout unincorporated communities in September 2023.

The principal proponents of the county ordinance, Supervisors Kevin Jeffries and Yxstian Gutierrez, noted that catalytic converter theft was among “the fastest growing crimes in the country.”

There were nearly 400 converter thefts countywide in 2023, roughly double the number in 2022, according to public safety officials.

Catalytic converters are used to filter emissions to cut down on the volume of pollutants discharged by cars and trucks. They’re located within a vehicle’s exhaust system and average about $1,200 apiece. Components include metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium, which command per-ounce prices ranging from $1,000 to $14,000. Thieves take the converters to scrap metal dealers and sell them.

The Murrieta ordinance would make it a misdemeanor offense to unlawfully possess a catalytic converter detached from a vehicle. A person caught with one would have to provide “verifiable valid proof of ownership,” or risk facing criminal charges.

Bills of sale, auto body shop documents indicating that the converter was removed by owner consent, email messages between the possessor and previous owner showing there was an agreement to relinquish the device, pictures of the vehicle from which the converter was removed and other evidence would be required to establish appropriate possession under the ordinance.

Without that paper trail, a person caught with a converter may be charged, slapped with fines between $1,000 and $5,000, as well as possibly do time in county jail.

Similar measures are in effect in San Bernardino County and municipalities in the region, including Eastvale and Upland.

Local law enforcement officials have supported specific regulatory action aimed at converter thefts because of what they’ve described as an absence of clear state provisions that address the activity.

The post Murrieta Considering Harsher Catalytic Converter Theft Crackdowns appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

A Thompson Middle School teacher was arrested by Murrieta police Wednesday on suspicion of child sexual assault.

Wayne Kenneth Conklin, 50, was taken into custody at 7:45 a.m. near Madison Avenue and Kalmia Street and was booked into Southwest Detention Center, jail records show. He is being held on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14, sexual abuse of multiple victims, and dissuading a witness — all felonies.

According to an announcement Wednesday from the Murrieta Police Department, allegations against Conklin surfaced July 16 and stemmed back to 2016.

Officers “became aware of an alleged sexual abuse against minor children that was reported to have occurred in 2016 at a residence in the City of Murrieta,” according to the MPD announcement.

The case was assigned to the police department’s Detective Bureau, which determined that Conklin sexually abused two children in 2016. Information about the alleged victims was not available.

According to his bio on the Murrieta Valley Unified School District website, Conklin graduated from Cal State University San Marcos in 1999 and got an internship at the district. He later earned his teaching credential and has worked at Thompson Middle School for 23 years.

With his arrest, the MVUSD placed Conklin on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of his case. According to an MVSUD statement, he is not allowed on any school district property.

The statement said the district is working cooperatively with Murrieta police.

“The district takes every reported act of misconduct seriously,” according to the MVUSD statement. “The top priority of the district is the safety of all students and staff. We hold this responsibility at the highest level and are grateful for our partnership with the Murrieta Police Department.”

Conklin has no felony convictions in Riverside County. In 2009, he was convicted of misdemeanor disturbing the peace, court records show.

Anyone with additional information pertaining to the case can contact Murrieta Police Detective Eric Velazquez at 951-461-6340 or evelazquez@murrietaca.gov.

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