The Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog recently raised concerns about the Border Patrol’s system for assessing the national security risk posed by migrants with potential ties to terrorism. In a report released by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, the case of a migrant who was later discovered to be on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist was highlighted. The report criticized the Border Patrol for releasing the migrant and his family before determining whether he was on the Terrorist Screening Dataset. It was only after the migrant tried to board a flight to Florida that federal officials confirmed his presence on the watchlist.
The DHS inspector general specifically pointed out the release of this migrant as an example of the Border Patrol’s ineffective practices in resolving inconclusive terrorism database searches. The report emphasized that such practices could potentially result in the release of individuals who pose a threat to national security and public safety.
The report also revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faced difficulties in obtaining information about the migrant’s records after arresting him in Florida. The DHS watchdog mentioned that CBP officials had taken appropriate steps to ensure there was no threat to the public.
While the report did not identify the migrant or his nationality, it referred to a congressional hearing about a Colombian man released after illegally entering the US near Yuma, Arizona, matching the details described in the report. The US government has removed Colombia’s demobilized left-wing guerillas and right-wing paramilitaries from its list of foreign terrorist groups, but individuals associated with these groups could still be on the FBI’s watchlist.
The report detailed the timeline of events surrounding the migrant’s case. It revealed that the FBI had requested the Border Patrol to interview the migrant after failing to determine his watchlist status. However, the request was sent to the wrong email address, and the interview did not take place. The Border Patrol released the migrant on April 19, despite the ongoing terrorism database search. Border Patrol agents mentioned inadequate procedures for handling cases with inconclusive watchlist searches and the pressure to release detainees quickly due to overcrowding in holding facilities as reasons for the release.
The migrant was eventually arrested by ICE after additional information was shared by the Transportation Security Administration with the FBI, confirming his watchlist match. However, ICE faced challenges in obtaining information about the migrant’s records to facilitate the arrest. In response to the report, a DHS official defended Border Patrol, stating that they were unaware of the migrant’s watchlist status when he was released. The official also highlighted that the migrant had been released with a GPS-enabled ankle monitor, allowing officials to track his movements.
The report noted an increase in Border Patrol apprehensions of migrants on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist in recent years, coinciding with the surge in overall crossings along the US-Mexico border. However, these hits still represent a very small fraction, less than 1%, of the total number of migrants crossing the border illegally.
Overall, the report sheds light on the flaws in the Border Patrol’s system for identifying migrants with potential terrorism ties. The concerns raised by the DHS inspector general highlight the need for improved procedures and coordination between agencies to ensure national security and public safety.
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