Chairman Mark Green of the Homeland Security Committee and other Committee leaders stated that the attempted breach of Marine Corps Base Quantico by Jordanian nationals who crossed illegally and are on the terrorist watch list demonstrates the "dire reality for the state of national security." Green and others questioned Secretary Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Austin of the Department of Defense, and Director Wray of the FBI on the incident in a letter dated May 23.
"The attempted breach at MCB Quantico, however, reflects a possibly more dire reality for the state of U.S. national security," said MARK E. GREEN, M.D. DAN BISHOP, AUGUST PFLUGER, CLAY HIGGINS, House Committee Chairmen, according to Homeland Security Committee. "The Committee fears that the Department of Homeland Security's relaxed vetting standards, which complement President Biden's avowed desire to “surge the border” with inadmissible migrants, have created an environment ripe for exploitation by individuals aiming to undermine the United States at its most critical points. If individuals on the terrorist watchlist are so emboldened to attempt to breach a Marine Corps base, the Department of Homeland Security and the entire executive branch must act swiftly to identify, apprehend, and detain such hostile actors on American soil."
According to Fox News, on May 3, two men, Jordanian nationals, approached MCB Quantico in a truck, claiming to be making a delivery. When officers attempted to detain them, they moved the truck forward and attempted to drive into the base. The men were then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for questioning.
One of the men was on the terrorist watch list, and the other had entered illegally through the southern border, according to a letter from the Homeland Security Committee. "The Committee is concerned about the Department of Homeland Security’s pattern of releasing suspected terrorists at the U.S. Southwest border and the resulting national security risks," said Green in the letter. They requested information regarding the incident for further investigation.
Todd Bensman from the Center for Immigration Studies commented on the attempted security breach: "A Jordanian immigrant who illegally crossed the Southwest border from Mexico finally staged the first known terrorism attack on U.S. soil on May 3 after having accessed the target from the Mexican border."
Green was elected to Congress in 2019, representing Tennessee's 7th District. He is currently Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
