In a concerning development, a group of 21 U.S. Senators, led by North Carolina’s Senator Ted Budd, have sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking answers about the recent apprehension and subsequent release of individuals with suspected ties to the terrorist organization ISIS at the southern border.
This alarming situation has raised serious national security concerns and prompted urgent calls for action to address the vulnerabilities in the nation’s border security.
According to the senators’ letter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested several individuals from Tajikistan who were suspected of having ties to ISIS.
These individuals had reportedly crossed the southern border, either presenting themselves at a port of entry or entering between the ports of entry, and were then released into the United States after undergoing vetting.
The letter states that two of these individuals crossed the border in the spring of 2023, and one of them used the CBP One app to enter the U.S.
“President Biden is derelict in his duty to protect and defend our country. These incidents highlight the extreme national security risks posed by the open southern border. We need to expose what happened here, and make sure it never happens again. We need to secure the border and stop the chaos,” said Budd in a statement.
According to the senators’ letter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested several individuals from Tajikistan who were suspected of having ties to ISIS.
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These individuals had reportedly crossed the southern border, either presenting themselves at a port of entry or entering between the ports of entry, and were then released into the United States after undergoing vetting. The letter states that two of these individuals crossed the border in the spring of 2023, and one of them used the CBP One app to enter the U.S.
The senators expressed grave concerns over the reports that one of the arrested individuals was caught on a wiretap talking about bombs, and that this individual had previously been released by federal authorities at the southern border with a court date set for the following year.
The senators also noted their concern that the vetting process conducted upon the individuals’ entry into the U.S. did not detect any ties to ISIS at the time, and these connections were only discovered later and in recent weeks.
The senators’ letter highlights the broader context of growing national security concerns related to the southern border. FBI Director Christopher Wray has testified before Congress about the potential for a “coordinated attack” in the U.S. homeland, similar to the recent ISIS-K attack in Russia.
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The letter also mentions previous instances of individuals with suspected terrorist ties being apprehended at the border and then released into the U.S., including an Afghan national with ties to the Hezb-e-Islami terrorist group, a Somalian with links to Al-Shabaab, and an Uzbek national with alleged ISIS connections.
Alarming Trends: Increased Encounters of Individuals on Terrorist Watchlists
The senators’ letter also points to alarming trends at the southern border, including a significant increase in the number of encounters with individuals on the terrorist watchlist.
According to the data provided, while there were only 11 such encounters in the combined fiscal years 2017 to 2020, the number has risen sharply, reaching 169 in fiscal year 2023 and 80 as of May 15, 2024. Additionally, the letter notes a record number of encounters with Chinese nationals at the southern border during the Biden administration.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
The senators express concern over the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the handling of individuals with suspected terrorist ties who have been apprehended at the southern border. In a recent hearing, DHS Secretary Mayorkas refused to directly answer whether such individuals were “at large” or had been apprehended, stating only that they are a “priority for detention.”
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The senators are now demanding a comprehensive briefing and detailed responses to a series of questions about the specific cases and the broader issues surrounding the release of these individuals into the U.S.
Calls for Immediate Action and Accountability
The senators’ letter underscores the urgent need for the Biden administration to address these alarming security breaches at the southern border.
They are demanding that the DHS provide detailed information about the arrested individuals, their entry into the U.S., the vetting process, and any potential ties to terrorist organizations. The senators also seek assurances that these incidents will not be repeated and that the border will be secured to prevent such threats from entering the country.
Implications for National Security and Border Security Policies
The revelations in the senators’ letter have significant implications for the Biden administration’s approach to border security and counterterrorism efforts.
The apparent failures in the vetting process and the subsequent release of individuals with suspected terrorist ties into the U.S. raise serious questions about the effectiveness of current border security measures and the coordination between various federal agencies responsible for homeland security.
Calls for Strengthening Border Security and Counterterrorism Efforts
The senators’ demands for answers and assurances from the DHS underscore the urgent need for the Biden administration to take immediate and decisive action to address the vulnerabilities in the nation’s border security.
This may involve enhancing intelligence-gathering capabilities, improving information-sharing among federal agencies, and implementing more robust vetting procedures for individuals seeking to enter the U.S., particularly those with potential ties to terrorist organizations.
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