Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Jerry Neyer, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Jerry Neyer, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
State Representative Jerry Neyer, a Republican from Shepherd, issued a statement following a report by the Detroit News about the arrest of a Chinese student at the University of Michigan. The student was apprehended by federal law enforcement for attempting to smuggle a biological pathogen into the United States.
Neyer expressed concern over the potential impact of such actions on agriculture in Michigan and the Midwest. "Anytime we brush up against agroterrorism like this, it hits everyone in the stomach, literally and figuratively," he stated. He emphasized that the pathogens could have severely damaged crops across the region.
He further compared agroterrorism to other forms of terrorism, highlighting its potential consequences. "Agroterrorism like this is just as dangerous as any other terrorist action. Cutting off our food supply would have the same deadly effect as spreading another disease like COVID," Neyer said. He warned that starving people could cause more harm than violent attacks.
Neyer also called for increased scrutiny of foreign influences in educational institutions. "Incidents like these prove we need to pay more attention to foreign influences in our colleges and universities," he remarked, stressing that even one individual with malicious intent could cause significant harm.
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