(The Center Square) – Nine Democratic U.S. Senators, including Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, introduced legislation this week that they hope will reduce the amount of fentanyl that flows over the country’s southern border. At the same time, the bill will increase inspections of goods leaving the United States for Mexico in an effort to stop the illegal export of firearms.

The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act would increase “staffing capacity and technology to detect illicit drugs and other contraband being smuggled through ports of entry along the border,” according to a press release from Luján’s office. It targets fentanyl that enters the country through legal ports of entry. “The flow of fentanyl into New Mexico has devastated families and their communities. This is a crisis resulting in thousands of deaths, and more investments are urgently needed to increase staffing at the border and boost technology to detect fentanyl,” Lujan said. “I have long advocated for 100% border screening, and this legislation is one more tool to stop the flow of illicit drugs from entering through the Southwest border. Congress must take action to invest in border security, hold criminals accountable, and put an end to the fentanyl crisis.”