The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement recently held a hearing titled "Terrorist Entry Through the Southwest Border." The hearing, which took place on September 14, focused on the current security challenges at the southern border. Livestreamed for public viewing, the hearing aimed to shed light on the national security implications of the Department of Homeland Security's open-borders approach and the policies implemented under the Biden Administration.
During the hearing, former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott testified that the United States is facing an increased risk of terrorism due to the current border policies. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, expressed concerns over the open borders, stating that "our borders are open, and our enemies are taking advantage." Van Drew emphasized the urgent need to secure the border in order to address these pressing threats.
The data provided by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website revealed that there have been over 1.9 million encounters at the southwest border in Fiscal Year 2023 alone. Additionally, an opinion piece written by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) highlighted that there have been 146 known encounters with foreign terrorists attempting to enter the country this year, a significant increase from the previous year's total of 98. Cotton noted that this number only represents the individuals caught, and the actual number of terrorists who have made it through remains unknown.
The hearing also raised questions regarding the effectiveness of the terrorist watchlist, as Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) questioned why individuals on the watchlist can simply walk across the open southern border. This raises concerns about the purpose and efficacy of maintaining a watchlist if it can be so easily bypassed.
Sen. Cotton further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Biden's open-border policy poses the most significant terrorist threat to the homeland in years. He drew attention to the fact that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by just 19 Al Qaeda operatives, highlighting the potential risk posed by individuals who have likely crossed the southern border since President Biden took office.
Overall, the hearing shed light on the security challenges at the southern border and the potential national security consequences of the current border policies. It highlighted the need for a secure border to address the pressing threats and ensure the safety of the nation.
