Washington — The migration crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border has raised concerns about potential exploitation by known or suspected terrorists. This issue has garnered increased attention, particularly following the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. Critics, including Republican lawmakers, GOP White House hopefuls, and conservative media figures, argue that the Biden administration’s border policies have made it easier for terrorists to enter the U.S. Former President Donald Trump even asserted that the “same people” responsible for civilian deaths in Israel are crossing the southern border with Mexico, although he provided no evidence to support his claim.
While there has been a rise in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals with matches on the U.S. terror watchlist in recent years, they constitute only a small fraction of all migrants processed along the southern border. It is worth noting that similar incidents are more common along the U.S.-Canada border, and not all individuals on the watchlist are suspected terrorists. Nonetheless, there are valid concerns about the U.S.’s ability to effectively detain all national security threats, including those who enter the country clandestinely.
Although it is unlikely that terrorists are flooding across the border, the large number of people arriving does have national security implications, according to Theresa Cardinal Brown, a former Department of Homeland Security official. The following information is based on government data, reports, and policy:
A significant increase in terror watchlist hits has been observed along the U.S.-Mexico border. Border Patrol is responsible for conducting criminal and national security screenings when apprehending individuals. This process involves checking names against the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Data Set (TSDS), which tracks known or suspected terrorists and their affiliates. Alongside the surge in overall crossings recorded by the agency, Border Patrol reported an all-time high of 151 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches entering the U.S. illegally along the southern border in fiscal year 2023, surpassing the previous record of 98 set in fiscal year 2022. The figures include those processed at official ports of entry, totaling 227 individuals with terror database hits.
There have been no indications that individuals affiliated with Hamas have been arrested along the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years. However, the available data on migrants with terror watchlist matches does not provide information about their identities, origins, or associated groups. Public reports of Border Patrol arresting terrorists with connections to al Qaeda or ISIS are also scarce. Earlier this year, U.S. officials did report a case involving a smuggler with ties to ISIS assisting migrants from Uzbekistan in traveling to the southern border. However, there were no indications that the migrants had terrorist links or were planning an attack, according to the White House.
It is important to note that a watchlist hit does not automatically classify a person as a terrorist. Hits can involve associates, family members, or individuals linked to organizations no longer considered terrorist groups. Additionally, faulty hits can occur. The Terrorist Screening Data Set encompasses a broad range of individuals, including those who do not pose a danger to the United States.
While the association of terrorism with high-profile Islamic fundamentalist groups is common, most migrants processed at the southern border come from the Western Hemisphere. Individuals with terror database hits in recent years have originated from Colombia and Venezuela, potentially having connections with domestic guerilla fighters rather than international terrorist organizations. Notably, the U.S. has removed Colombia’s demobilized left-wing guerillas and right-wing paramilitaries, such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), from its list of foreign terrorist groups. Nevertheless, people associated with these groups may still be on the terrorism watchlist.
When Border Patrol apprehends someone with a watchlist hit, they must decide whether to deport, release, or transfer the individual to another federal agency. Migrants and asylum-seekers are often released from border custody with proper documentation, while those with FBI terror watchlist matches are typically detained for further evaluation. If the match is deemed accurate, the government can pursue deportation while the individual remains in custody. Under the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement priorities, individuals considered national security threats, including terrorists and spies, are a priority for arrest and deportation.
Although there has been an increase in terror watchlist hits along the southern border, they still make up a small percentage (less than 0.01%) of the hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross the U.S. illegally each year. In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol reported over 2 million migrant apprehensions along the southern border, compared to 151 individuals with FBI terror watchlist matches.
While encounters with individuals who have FBI terror database matches are more common along the U.S.-Canada border, the northern border has significantly lower levels of unauthorized migration. Customs and Border Protection recorded over 430 watchlist hits along the northern border in fiscal year 2023, with the majority occurring at official ports of entry.
The intelligence branch of the Department of Homeland Security’s homeland threat assessment for 2024 highlights how the growing number of migrants arriving from various countries has complicated border and immigration security. The report cites the increase in terror database matches as a contributing factor. It also mentions that apprehensions of migrants from the Eastern Hemisphere, though significantly fewer than those from the Western Hemisphere, have added challenges to border security due to the need for thorough vetting and processing and the difficulties associated with their deportation.
In July, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General released a report questioning Border Patrol’s system for identifying potential national security risks. The report referenced a Colombian migrant who was on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist but was released in 2022. DHS responded by highlighting that the individual was subsequently re-arrested once his terrorist watchlist status was discovered.
There are concerns among officials and lawmakers about the potential ties to terrorism among the estimated hundreds of thousands of migrants who evaded apprehension after unlawfully crossing the U.S. southern border. Border Patrol estimates that over 1 million individuals entered the country surreptitiously in the past two years.
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