The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Intelligence Division San Diego Field Office sent an internal memo alerting personnel about possible infiltrations by terrorist groups on the southern border.
The document obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation states that members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah could attempt to travel to or from “the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the Southwest border.”
“Foreign fighters motivated by ideology or mercenary soldiers of fortune may attempt to obfuscate travel to or from the US to or from countries in the Middle East through Mexico,” the memo states.
CBP also highlighted several indicators that could help identify members linked to terrorism: men of military age, possessing military equipment, traveling alone, having an undetermined return plan and/or an association with the region.
CLOSE THE BORDER.https://t.co/iFJYIF0Lbn
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) October 24, 2023
The number of detainees linked to terrorism skyrockets
During this 2023 fiscal year, the highest number of arrests of terrorist suspects trying to enter the country was recorded.
Customs and Border Protection statistics indicate that Border Patrol agents apprehended 172 people included on the Terrorist list that are known or suspected of terrorism, which not only represents an increase compared to the 98 in 2022, but also exceeds the sum of those detained by this body in the previous six fiscal years (128).
Republican senator urges action
Recently, the Republican senator from Missouri, Josh Hawley, sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding that he take action due to the risks posed by the increase in illegal immigrants linked to terrorism trying to enter the country.
“It is imperative that you address this issue immediately to ensure the safety of American citizens, especially Jewish Americans, who are facing increased threats to their physical safety following the Hamas attack,” Hawley explained.
