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Kennedy proposes swab screening at the border to detect fentanyl exposure
Summary
In a Utah County GOP podcast, Mike Kennedy urged 'Remain in Mexico' asylum rules and proposed using swab technology at ports of entry to screen for fentanyl exposure as a way to stop traffickers, calling it pragmatic common ground to reduce trafficking and drug deaths.
Mike Kennedy, a state senator and Republican candidate for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, told the Utah County Republican Party podcast he wants to prioritize frontier enforcement against fentanyl and tighten asylum standards. "Remain in Mexico is a must have," he said, arguing that the policy should be legislated rather than handled administratively.
On an unusual technical proposal, Kennedy suggested using swab technology at border checkpoints to detect fentanyl traces on individuals and turn away those who test positive. "There's gotta be some kind of swab... We could actually screen that out so that these fentanyl purveyors are not able to get across our border," he said, proposing a screening tool analogized to rapid COVID tests and TSA procedures.
Kennedy presented the idea as pragmatic common ground that could attract bipartisan support while focusing enforcement resources on trafficking, human smuggling and fentanyl seizures. He acknowledged privacy concerns related to searches and pat‑downs but argued for targeted technological screening to prevent drug deaths.
The proposal is conceptual in the podcast: Kennedy described technology and the goal of screening but did not reference specific devices, pilot programs or legal authorizations needed to implement such screening at ports of entry.
