Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), has joined HSGAC Ranking Member Rand Paul (R-KY) and fellow Committee Republicans Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) in requesting a hearing to examine the threat of individuals exploiting the southern border for potential terrorist activities. The letter, addressed to Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI), outlines concerns over the Biden Administration's policies that have allegedly allowed millions of illegal immigrants, including those with potential criminal and terrorist intent, to cross the border.

Since 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has apprehended 360 individuals on the terrorist watchlist attempting to cross the Southwest border illegally. This increase has prompted Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to express concern over the threat posed by known or suspected terrorists exploiting current border policies.

“Faced with elevated threats, it is well past time to hold a public hearing on the danger of terrorism facilitated by easy access across the border," stated the senators. "For over three years, members of this Committee have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the need for oversight of the crisis at the Southwest border. The policies implemented by the Biden administration have directly contributed to unprecedented levels of illegal immigration, exposing a vulnerability that bad actors can exploit to enter the country.”

The full text of their letter emphasizes recent incidents involving foreign nationals with suspected ties to ISIS detained in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles after allegedly entering through the Southwest border. These arrests underscore what they describe as an urgent need for immediate oversight from their Committee.

The letter highlights that since 2021, more than 8 million aliens have been encountered at this border by CBP, overwhelming efforts to vet and track these individuals effectively. This situation is further exacerbated by record-breaking encounters with individuals on terrorist watchlists.

Attorney General Garland expressed his concern during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on June 4, 2024: “I’m worried about the possibility of a terrorist attack in the country after October 7. The threat level has gone up enormously." On that same day, FBI Director Wray testified before another Senate committee about an increase in known or suspected terrorists attempting illegal entry.

The senators concluded their request urging Chairman Peters to convene a hearing with top officials from relevant federal agencies to discuss strategies for addressing what they see as significant increases in terrorists entering due to current policies.