As the crisis at the southern border worsens, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ subcommittee that has responsibility for counterterrorism issues, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas requesting DHS provide accurate statistics regarding the number of known or suspected terrorists apprehended at land borders or ports of entry.
In a 2019 fact sheet, DHS reported more than 3,700 known or suspected terrorists were detained in fiscal year 2017. However, because these numbers differ with other published estimates of arrests, Congress is hard-pressed to accurately assess and address the threat posed by terrorists infiltrating our borders. In light of recent reports, including from Axios, of the capture of individuals on the FBI’s Terror Screening Database along the Southern Border, it is imperative that Congress possess all the relevant information so we can develop policies that keep Americans secure.
“As Congress considers the authorities and budgets of our nation’s counterterrorism activities, it is vital that we be in possession of all the facts. CBP recently reported that more than 100,000 individuals attempted entry into the United States along our Southern Border in the month of February—an increase of 28 percent from the prior month. Given this influx, Congress must ensure that DHS and CBP are best positioned to counter any threats from terrorism. This mission starts with information,” said Senator Young.
