Texas Republicans Say Coyotes Increasing COVID Spread

Border coyotes trafficking humans and goods across the border are bringing COVID-19 infections with them, according to Texas Republicans.

"We know a large percentage of these people are COVID positive," Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, former chief medical advisor to President Donald Trump, told Fox News.

"We worked really hard, especially here in Texas to turn things around with COVID, so we can get our kids back to school and open up our small businesses."

On the U.S.-Mexico border – coyotes as they are known – traffic people across the border from Mexico to the United States for a fee. Currently those who are detained at U.S. Border and Protection facilities are enclosed in spaces which increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Since the policy changes following the departure of the Trump administration, U.S. Border and Protection agents have been overwhelmed keeping up with the current demands placed on them.

The border protection facility in Donna, Texas, has a 10% positivity rate, according to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Part of the concern for Rep. Jackson is – while border patrol officers spend time handing out juice boxes and diapers – members of the Mexican cartels can slip passed border patrol more easily.

"Now we see the cartels are taking advantage of it [referring to the change in border policy], with this human trafficking," Jackson told Fox News. "They're making tons and tons of money, millions, potentially a billion dollars with this human trafficking.

"In addition to the fact, the rest of the border is wide open for their other activities. They're bringing heroine, methamphetamine, cocaine."

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