'Driver cards' would ease drug cartel operations in Oregon: Guest opinion

If ever there was doubt about Mexican cartels' danger to our state, it was dispelled by the recent series "Drug cartels in Oregon" (published in The Oregonian June 23 to 27).

"Cartels and their allies control nearly every ounce of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine flowing into the region," reported Les Zaitz. "At last count, authorities were aware of no fewer than 69 drug trafficking organizations selling drugs in the state, nearly all supplied by cartels." In 2011 and 2012, Zaitz noted, cartel-supplied heroin killed almost 300 Oregonians; "meth and cocaine claimed dozens more."

The series, however, neglected to examine illegal immigrants' role in cartel operations. And it ignored how Senate Bill 833, the new state law granting illegal immigrants "driver cards" will enable cartels to operate here more easily.

Read the entire letter here.