Project Gatekeeper: Mexico Finally Steps Up, But After How Much Damage?
It’s about time Mexico stepped up and took some responsibility.
The DEA just launched “Project Gatekeeper”, a new joint effort with Mexican law enforcement, prosecutors, and defense officials to go after the cartel “gatekeepers” who are the ones who control smuggling routes along the southern border. These are the people funneling fentanyl, meth, and cocaine into our neighborhoods, while sending guns and cash back into Mexico. For years, they’ve operated freely while American families paid the price.
Now, U.S. and Mexican officials will train together, share intelligence, and build coordinated strategies to dismantle these violent networks. This is a good move but let’s be honest, it’s long overdue. Because while the Biden administration kept insisting the border was “closed,” here’s what actually happened:
Over 7.2 million illegal crossings were recorded between 2021 and 2024 not counting the ones who got away. Noone really knows what the true numbers are on this
More than 80,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2024, most of them fentanyl related.
Human trafficking surged, with cartels exploiting weak enforcement to traffic women and children into forced labor and sexual exploitation.
Cartel linked crimes like extortion, kidnapping and murder have spilled into U.S. cities and cartels like Sinaloa, Tren De Aragua and Jalisco New Generation have now been designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
Border states like California, Texas and Arizona bore the brunt of the insane Democrat open border policies with California having the highest number ( over 2.6 million) of illegal immigrants.
So yes, Project Gatekeeper is a step in the right direction. But it’s also a reminder of how much damage has already been done. Biden’s so-called “closed border” was anything but. His policies halted wall construction, gutted enforcement, and prioritized optics over safety. Legacy media refused to cover the truth of what was happening at our borders and Democrats demonized anyone who called this out, as racist, fascist Nazis.
California can’t afford to keep pretending this isn’t our fight. Our communities are hurting. Our families are paying the price and our leaders need to stop playing politics while cartels play war. Our Governor doesn’t seem to care about the people of California as much as he does about pursuing his own agenda. This new partnership between the US and Mexico will save the lives of migrant families and Americans so thank you President Trump for caring about people and trying to put a stop to the death and suffering caused by reckless progressive policies. Thanks for having our backs on this!
Carol Pefley
Candidate for Ca State Assembly District 28
