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Bentz calls on Attorney General Garland to prioritize drug, immigration enforcement

Rep. Cliff Bentz speaks at   House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing
Rep. Cliff Bentz's office
Rep. Cliff Bentz speaks at House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing

Also questions FBI focus on parents at school board meetings

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- During a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Thursday, Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, called on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to prioritize and direct more federal resources to local law enforcement in places like Southern Oregon. where county officials are combating drug cartel operations, including illegal marijuana farms and human trafficking.

Bentz said, "I've spoken with the FBI, but the Justice Department needs to be doing more about this issue at all levels."

"Oregon, and possibly other states are caught up in the illegal growing and production of marijuana and cannabis on an industrial scale. According to local law enforcement, this industry is based in large part on the miserable suffering of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people coming across the border illegally, and then being pressed into indentured servitude by cartels."

Following the hearing, Bentz stated, “I had the opportunity to directly ask the attorney general why he told the FBI to focus on parents appearing before school boards voicing their displeasure about critical race theory, instead of protecting Oregon communities from the obvious and real dangers posed by illegal and dangerous drug cartels. I hope he listened and that he will do more to help.”

Additional Resources:

Video: Bentz Hearing Clip on YouTube

Video: Bentz Hearing Clip (Downloadable)

Transcript: Bentz Remarks at Hearing

Photos: Bentz at Hearing

Video: Bentz Reaction to Hearing on Newsmax TV (Downloadable)

Letter and Photos: Josephine County Commission

Emergency Declaration by Jackson County

Video: Flyover of Jackson County Marijuana and Hemp Farms

Article Topic Follows: Government-politics

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