This is a very concerning sign.
On Tuesday, House Republicans demanded additional details from top officials in the Biden administration regarding three Palestinian nationals and one Turkish migrant suspected of being terrorists who were apprehended illegally crossing the US-Mexico border last month. The request was directed at Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The letter, spearheaded by House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) along with Reps. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and August Pfluger (R-Texas), follows the detention of these individuals by Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector. These individuals are currently under investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
In their communication, the lawmakers expressed deep concern over the increasing trend of suspected terrorists exploiting the Southwest border. They criticized the current administration’s handling of border security, citing a growing number of instances where known or suspected terrorists are managing to cross into the United States.
The Republican representatives highlighted their frustration at not being informed about any potential connections these detainees might have with terrorist organizations like Hamas or Hezbollah. They have demanded that Mayorkas and Wray provide Congress with the complete Alien Files for these individuals, along with any relevant information linking them to terrorist activities and records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and prosecutors.
The lawmakers set a deadline of August 27 for this information to be delivered. They voiced strong concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks being carried out by “lone wolf” actors or coordinated groups, attributing these risks to the administration’s perceived failures in national security.
The Post previously reported disturbing findings, including one detainee having “salacious photos” on their phone, such as an image of a masked man with an AK-47 rifle. This incident, combined with the lack of access Border Patrol agents have to international criminal databases, raises alarms about potential security lapses.
Following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Border Patrol agents were alerted to the possibility of Palestinians affiliated with terrorist organizations attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. Warnings indicated that individuals motivated by the Israel-Hamas conflict might try to enter the U.S. through the Southwest border.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is tracking 50 migrants who entered the U.S. with the aid of an ISIS-linked smuggling ring. This situation adds to the apprehension that terrorists could be among the 1.8 million “gotaways”—individuals who entered the country illegally and evaded capture under the Biden administration. As of March, nearly 300 people on terror watchlists had been intercepted crossing the southern border since fiscal year 2022.
The Republicans argue that the border crisis has significant national security implications, reflecting not only what is known but also the potential dangers posed by those who manage to evade detection.