California sheriffs are raising alarms over what they see as the dangerous consequences of the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies and California’s sanctuary state law. These concerns were brought to light during a recent U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the perspectives of crime victims.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux spoke out, emphasizing that California is feeling the direct impact of illegal immigration. “When it comes to open borders and the impact of illegal immigration in California, I have a front-row seat to the havoc those can wreak,” Boudreaux stated.

Sheriff Boudreaux is not alone in his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris. He and other sheriffs have publicly distanced themselves from her campaign, saying they do not support her as a candidate for president.

Boudreaux shared the challenges facing California’s Central Valley, an area that plays a crucial role in the nation’s food supply. Known as the “breadbasket of the world,” the region has a long history of illegal immigration, with an estimated 80% of agricultural workers in the area living in the country without documentation. The sheriff stressed that illegal immigration has also brought crime to the region, leaving local law enforcement stretched thin.

“When it comes to our open border, the Central Valley is at the foot of the mountain staring down an avalanche,” Boudreaux said, describing the surge of criminal activity and drug trafficking. He emphasized that illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, are flowing into California via major highways like Highway 99 and Interstate 5, which he referred to as “highways of death.”

Sheriff Boudreaux highlighted the presence of the Sinaloa Cartel in Tulare County, describing how drug trafficking operations have increased. Captured cartel members have also told police that it’s been easier to move drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border in the past three years because of today’s immigration rules.

In addition, Boudreaux discussed how criminal activity from cartel members has claimed the lives of law enforcement officers. He noted that some of these criminals had been deported multiple times after committing serious offenses, only to return and commit more crimes. One case he highlighted involved drug traffickers who were arrested in Washington state but released the next day, never to be seen again.

Boudreaux criticized California’s sanctuary law, SB54, which stops local police from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He argued that this policy enables criminal organizations to operate without fear of serious consequences. “California has basically become an open territory for the cartel to do whatever it wants,” he said.

Boudreaux pointed to rising violence caused by Mexican cartels, including a horrific case involving the execution of a family, which included a 16-year-old mother and her 10-month-old baby. He blamed the current administration’s policies for creating a situation in which law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by a flood of crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and financial scams.

Sheriff Boudreaux wasn’t the only law enforcement official raising concerns. Riverside County Undersheriff Don Sharp also testified, saying his county has felt the “devastating effect of a weak border” under the Biden-Harris administration. Sharp, who has spent more than a decade in narcotics enforcement, described the overwhelming amount of fentanyl flowing into communities, with emergency responders dealing with overdose cases daily.

“The flood of deadly fentanyl to our streets is overwhelming and only made possible by complete border security failures under the current administration,” Sharp said. He explained that overwhelmed Border Patrol agents are busy processing individuals entering the country, leaving the border vulnerable to criminals smuggling drugs and people into the U.S.

Sharp detailed how Riverside County’s narcotics unit seized a staggering 359 pounds of fentanyl and over 2.3 million fentanyl pills in 2023—enough to kill the county’s entire population. He acknowledged that despite their efforts, they have likely missed even more drugs coming through.

Sharp criticized both state and national leadership, expressing frustration with the immigration policies that have led to increased border crime. “Our state and nation matter and our citizens are afraid of the consequences of an open border,” he said. He also warned about the unknown number of dangerous individuals crossing the border unchecked, calling the situation “eye-opening and terrifying.”

Both sheriffs urged the administration to reconsider its border policies, warning that law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep up and that California communities are at risk.