“Harris will double DOJ resources as poll shows voters want crackdown on cartels.”

Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed to double the Justice Department’s resources to fight cartels as a new poll shows crime syndicates are a top concern for Latino voters.

At a campaign rally in Nevada on Sunday, Harris also promised to curb the importation of fentanyl into the United States if she is elected in November.

“As President, I will double the resources of the Department of Justice to combat these transnational cartels and take action to stop the flow of fentanyl into our country that is destroying entire communities,” Harris said.

Immigration is a key issue in the 2024 presidential election, with cartels also in the national spotlight after several high-profile cases involving El Mayo, Venezuelan gangs and shiploads of drugs entering the country.

Harris’ endorsement came as a new UnidosUS poll of Latino voters in swing states showed that human smugglers and drug traffickers were a priority when discussing border security.

Harris made the comments after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday that Harris wanted to legalize fentanyl.

“She’s so radical that she actually wants to legalize fentanyl immediately,” he told a crowd of his loyal MAGA supporters.

During Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, she vowed to “target the entire global fentanyl supply chain” and “significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals from China.”

Eric Ruark, director of research and sustainability at NumbersUSA, said previously Newsweek that poll numbers show voters trust Trump more than Harris on immigration.

“According to a September ABC/Ipsos poll, voters trust Trump 10 percentage points more than Harris on immigration,” Ruark said. “Harris is clearly trying to convince voters that she is somehow opposed to the very policies her administration has put in place.”

Polls from Redfield and Wilton Strategies show that 47 percent of respondents trust Trump on immigration, compared to 36 percent who trust Harris.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 70 percent of deaths were related to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.

Michael Giles, CEO of Sonara Health, said Newsweek: “The increase in fentanyl-related deaths among people ages 18 to 45 in the United States is having a profound impact on public health by increasing mortality rates and straining health care resources. Economically, this results in lost productivity, increased healthcare costs, and financial stress on families due to loss of income and medical costs leading to societal disruption through increased crime rates, family instability, and widespread mental health problems due to grief and trauma.

Harris’ pledge to crack down on drug smuggling and human trafficking cartels comes amid growing concerns about the presence of a Venezuelan gang terrorizing communities in Colorado and El Paso.

The gang, known as Tren de Aragua (TdA), focuses on human trafficking and other abuses against vulnerable migrants.

Footage emerged on social media of the gang storming the apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado.

The video shows men with assault rifles climbing a stairwell before breaking down doors at The Edge at Lowry apartments.

In September, police reportedly identified 10 members of a notorious Venezuelan gang.

Aurora police said TdA members “committed acts of violence against members of the migrant community” in the city.

Do you have a story that Newsweek should cover? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact [email protected]