Senator Marshall Visits Southern Border Alongside Kansas Law Enforcement Officials

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) visited Sierra Vista, Arizona yesterday to tour the Joint Task Force-Southern Border Command offices, thank members of Kansas’ own 1^st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, participate in tours along the southern border, receive briefings, and take an aerial tour of the border near Arizona with several Kansas law enforcement officials.

Below are photos from Senator Marshall’s visit. Click HERE and HERE for b-roll videos.

Senator Marshall with members of Joint Task Force Southern Border.

Senator Marshall prepares to view the border from the air.

Senator Marshall at the border wall with detectives from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.

Senator Marshall with members of Kansas law enforcement at the southern border wall.

From left to right: Sheriff Billy Tomasi, Director Brian Peete, Sheriff Jeff Easter, Sheriff Scott Braun, Senator Roger Marshall, Chief Karl Oakman, Director Tony Mattivi, and Chief Courtney Leslie.

“Having visited the southern border multiple times under the Biden-Harris Administration, I witnessed chaos, lawlessness, and a system overwhelmed by over 10 million illegal crossings –including individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist,” said Senator Marshall. “But during my most recent trip, the difference was clear. Since President Trump returned to office, we’ve already seen a dramatic shift with illegal border crossings dropping 93% compared to last year. What I’ve witnessed firsthand at the border proves that President Trump’s bold leadership is delivering results, and he is keeping his promises. To continue delivering on the President’s agenda, the Senate must pass the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ – legislation that will provide critical funding our border agencies need to keep America safe.”

Since President Trump took office in January 2025, the number of illegal immigrant crossings at the southern border has dropped dramatically. In April 2024, there were 128,900 crossings at the border, while in April 2025, there were only 8,400.

The Kansas law enforcement officers who accompanied Senator Marshall included Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Director Tony Mattivi, Director of the Riley County Police Department Brian Peete, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffery Easter, Crawford County Sheriff Billy Tomasi, Ellis County Sheriff and Kansas Sheriffs’ Association President Scott Braun, Hugoton Police Chief and Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police President Courtney Leslie, and Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief Karl Oakman.

“I was honored to join Senator Marshall and several sheriffs and police chiefs in experiencing firsthand the challenges at our southern border,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “We know every fentanyl pill sold in Kansas is trafficked by Mexican drug cartels through this border. Every single pill that kills a Kansan enters the country here, so we must continue the fight to keep dangerous and violent criminals out.”

“Senator Marshall champions law enforcement and public safety efforts. He understands the unique role the Riley County Police Department plays in protecting national security and operational readiness because of our ties to NBAF and Fort Riley,” said Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete. “This opportunity has helped the department forge new strategic plans and procedures to keep our county safe from narcotic and human trafficking, as well as foreign terrorist organizations. My sincerest thanks to both he and his team.”

“The experience was very informative. It was amazing to me to see what 4 years of an unsecured border looked like and the issues it created for the United States,” said Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey Easter. “This trip highlighted the absolute cooperation between the U.S military, Border Patrol, and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. These men and women are on the front lines protecting Kansans from the fentanyl and methamphetamine scourge that has gripped Sedgwick County. I am very appreciative of Senator Marshall inviting me to observe and understand the situation at our border.”

“We’ve learned where it’s coming in from, we’ve learned where it’s being transported to, and this is a hub where it’s coming out of,” said Crawford County Sheriff Billy Tomasi. “Like I told the voters when I came on, that I am going to learn about this and I’m going to start taking it off the streets, and that’s my goal. And I appreciate the opportunity from Senator Marshall allowing me to come down here with him to learn this, to bring back to our community.”

“My recent opportunity to visit the Arizona–Mexico border with Senator Roger Marshall demonstrates his strong commitment to securing our southern border and supporting those on the front lines,” said Ellis County Sheriff and President of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association Scott J Braun. “A secure border is critical to stopping the cartels’ trafficking of both narcotics and human beings – crimes that have devastating consequences not only at the border but throughout the nation, including right here in Kansas. The flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs, as well as the trafficking of vulnerable individuals, demands a coordinated response across federal, state, and local levels. As the Sheriff of Ellis County, I am committed to working alongside our counterparts to protect our communities, disrupt criminal networks, and combat the rising threats tied to an unsecured border.”

“Our visit to the Arizona border with the dedicated military – including soldiers from Fort Riley –and border agencies, was eye-opening. The fight against illegal immigrants and the deadly flow of fentanyl is real.  It’s happening on the ground, and it’s impacting Kansas communities every day. The brave men and women on the front lines deserve our full support as they work to protect our borders and save lives back home,” said Hugoton Police Chief and Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police President Courtney Leslie. “I am extremely grateful to Senator Marshall and his staff for the opportunity to see firsthand the fight against the cartels that are trafficking fentanyl across our border daily. The fight against these cartels is not just a border issue – it is a fight for the safety of every Kansas community.”

“I would like to thank Senator Marshall for the opportunity to see firsthand the great work being done by our men and women of law enforcement, border patrol, and the military,” said Kansas Police Chief Karl Oakman. “Eliminating drug smuggling is still a major challenge at the border, and additional resources are needed.”

Background:

• Senator Marshall spoke out against Joe Biden’s reckless border policies continuously during his four disastrous years in office, calling it the “number one” most immediate national security threat.
• Senator Marshall supports President Donald Trump’s ‘One, Big Beautiful Bill,’ which includes the largest border security investment in history, empowers ICE to deport the millions of illegal immigrants who entered under the Biden-Harris Administration, and provides funding for at least one million annual removals.
• Recently, Senator Marshall reintroduced the Justice for Angel Families Act, legislation that would amend the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to expand financial coverage for Angel Families – the immediate relatives of victims killed by illegal aliens.
• In 2024, he introduced legislation the Demanding Citizenship in D.C. Elections Act, which would require anyone who votes in a municipal election in the District of Columbia to be a U.S. Citizen and require proof of citizenship. 
• In 2024, Senator Marshall also went to the Senate Floor demanding the immediate passage of his resolution declaring an invasion at the southern border.
• In an op-ed for FOX News in 2019, then-Congressman Marshall detailed his border visit with fellow doctors in Congress stating, “Our systems are simply overwhelmed, and there appears to be no break in the near future… until we build a wall, and until we turn off the laws that only serve as magnets, all the money in the world will not have a huge humanitarian impact.”

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