Sheriff’s group deems Border Patrol’s warning on potential Hamas terrorists crossing US-Mexico border as insufficient and belated.
A Warning: Terrorists from Israel-Hamas War May Attempt to Cross US-Mexico Border
According to sources, a warning has been circulated among officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that terrorists associated with the Israel-Hamas war may try to enter the United States from Mexico. This comes at a time when the number of illegal immigrant ‘gotaways’ has significantly increased.
“I think it’s too little too late to start worrying about [Hamas terrorists] trying to cross the border when you’ve already reported an estimated 2 million gotaways, and you don’t have any idea who those people are that have come into this country,” said Clint McDonald, Executive Director of the Southwestern Border Sheriffs Coalition.
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“So now to start throwing out fear after you’ve opened the border is ridiculous.”
More than 18,000 people have eluded Border Patrol agents while sneaking across the U.S.-Mexico border since Oct. 1, according to a post from Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens on X.
“Over 18K known gotaways in the first 16 days of FY24. These are individuals whose identities & purpose we do not know. That is why you need every Border Patrol agent to be in the field and on patrol,” he wrote.
On his podcast, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) warned that the heightened number of gotaways is a major national security concern.
“If you were a terrorist, if you wanted to commit jihad, there is an obvious way to do that … If you’re a terrorist who wants to murder Americans, the way to do it is to cross over our southern border because these idiots in the White House will let you go, and they’re not enforcing the border, and it’s not hard to be a gotaway,” said Mr. Cruz.
‘Worst Year’ at US Border—’Ever’
Illegal immigrant encounters at the southwest border in the fiscal year of 2023 have increased over 40 percent since 2021, 4 percent compared to 2022, and more than 100 percent compared to 2019, making the last fiscal year the worst on record under the Biden administration, according to a recently released House Homeland Security Committee fact sheet: “Final FY23 Numbers Show Worst Year At Americas Border – Ever”.
“In the final month of FY2023, CBP recorded 269,735 encounters at the Southwest border, marking another unprecedented milestone under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and President Joe Biden’s open-borders policies,” the report states.
The report suggests Border Patrol agents are already stretched thin dealing with the enormous amount of illegal immigrants voluntarily surrendering, and so being on the lookout for terrorists from Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group is a daunting task.
“There are no Border Patrol agents out there because they’re too busy processing the people that are turning themselves in; that means all those vast areas between the ports of entry are open, so anybody can come through and bring anything they want,” said Mr. McDonald.
According to statistics from the CBP, 169 people on the FBI terror watch list were encountered in the past 12 months between ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border; 18 were apprehended in September alone—a number that is 72 percent higher than the previous year for apprehensions of individuals on the terror watchlist and, and is the most on record.
It’s a number that some counterterrorism experts believe may be on the low end.
“How many others on the terror watch list could have crossed through?” former FBI Special Agent and counterterrorism expert James Conway told The Epoch Times.
“The problem is that Iranian-backed militias are most sophisticated; Hezbollah has sleeper cells and operatives on the ground with operations targeting U.S. and Western targets in all four corners of the globe. I’ve been to all those places; the paradigm is the same with Iranian-backed Hezbollah.”
Mr. Conway says that militants from the Middle East have been targeting Americans and trying to cross into the United States through the southwestern border for years.
“Iranian-backed militias have been killing Americans for over 40 years, and now suddenly we’re concerned? They’ve been crossing the border since after 9/11, but [before the Biden administration] we focused on this threat, scrubbed the entries, and prevented a lot of bad guys from coming into the U.S,” said Mr. Conway.
“I was involved in a case where we captured two Hezbollah operatives that crossed the southwestern border,” he added.
Targeting ‘the Homeland’
A threat assessment from the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2024 warns that Border Patrol agents have encountered an increasing number of illegal immigrants on the terror watch list and have warned that “terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States.”
The assessment further states that “Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States,” and that “foreign terrorist groups like al-Qa‘ida and ISIS are seeking to rebuild overseas, and they maintain worldwide networks of supporters that could seek to target the Homeland.”
DHS warns that among state actors, the agency expects “Iran to remain the primary sponsor of terrorism and continue its efforts to advance plots against individuals in the United States.”
“Iran-backed Hezbollah is the A-team, Hamas is junior varsity,” Mr. Conway said. “One must realize Hezbollah has over 130,000 cruise missiles in southern Lebanon aimed at Israel as we speak; I feel our national security is at its highest point in our history.”
Though DHS says there are no specific or credible threats against the United States at this time, the agency warns Americans to stay vigilant.
“The U.S. remains in a heightened threat environment and recent events reinforce that. As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, we have seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions. Lone offenders, motivated by a range of violent ideologies, pose the most likely threat,” the bulletin reads.
What recent warnings and statistics highlight the concerning situation at the U.S.-Mexico border regarding illegal immigration and individuals with links to terrorism?
Ented entry of thousands of individuals with links to terrorism,” he said.
The Need for Heightened Border Security
The recent warnings and statistics paint a concerning picture of the U.S.-Mexico border. With a significant increase in the number of illegal immigrant ‘gotaways’ and encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist, it is clear that the border security situation is dire.
While Border Patrol agents are already overwhelmed with the processing of illegal immigrants voluntarily surrendering, the added task of identifying and apprehending terrorists from groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is an immense challenge.
The potential infiltration of terrorists from the Israel-Hamas war must be taken seriously. The conflict in the Middle East has fueled tensions and extremist ideologies that pose a threat to the safety and security of the United States.
It is imperative for the Biden administration and the DHS to prioritize border security and allocate necessary resources to prevent any potential terrorist attacks. Strengthening border infrastructure, deploying more Border Patrol agents, and enhancing intelligence-sharing and collaboration with international partners are crucial steps to mitigate this threat.
Furthermore, the U.S. government must reevaluate its immigration policies and ensure that individuals with known links to terrorism are effectively screened and prevented from entering the country. The recent surge in encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist is alarming, and more stringent vetting procedures must be implemented to safeguard national security.
A Call for International Cooperation
The issue of border security extends beyond the United States and requires international cooperation. As highlighted by counterterrorism expert James Conway, Iranian-backed militias and groups like Hezbollah have a global presence and pose a threat to Western targets.
Countries around the world must collaborate in sharing intelligence, disrupting terrorist networks, and implementing robust border security measures. The fight against terrorism is a collective effort, and only through international cooperation can we effectively counter this growing threat.
Conclusion
The warning of potential terrorists from the Israel-Hamas war attempting to cross the US-Mexico border demands immediate action. With the increasing number of illegal immigrant ‘gotaways’ and encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist, it is clear that the border security situation is critical.
The Biden administration and the DHS must prioritize border security, allocate necessary resources, and enhance collaboration with international partners to mitigate this threat. Strengthening border infrastructure, deploying more Border Patrol agents, and implementing stringent vetting procedures are crucial steps to safeguard national security.
Furthermore, international cooperation in sharing intelligence and disrupting terrorist networks is paramount in the fight against terrorism. This issue transcends borders and requires a collective effort to effectively counter the growing threat.
It is essential that the United States takes proactive measures to prevent any potential terrorist attacks and ensures the safety and security of its citizens. The time for action is now.
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