Kirk backs Dem bill on border enforcement

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is pushing Democratic legislation to beef up enforcement at the Mexico border, which he says will help alleviate the rash of heroin overdose deaths in the suburbs.

Coroners across the suburbs have reported a spike in overdose deaths from unusually pure heroin. Lake County officials have reported at least 20 deaths, double normal rates for this time of year. And in Will County 11 have died this year, three short of the total for all of last year.

Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, and other officials blame the influx of highly potent heroin on Mexican drug cartels. Kirk said Thursday he was signing on to a Democratic-sponsored measure that would provide additional funding to local officers along the Mexican border and to a federal program targeting gun traffickers.