Senate Republicans want answers from Mayorkas about suspected ISIS terrorists released into US at border.
Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., recently led a group of 21 senators in writing a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding answers following reports that individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were arrested at the southern border, vetted, and then released into the United States.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency recently apprehended eight people after one of them was reportedly overheard on a wiretap discussing bombs. The concerning incidents have brought to light the severe national security risks posed by the open southern border, with Sen. Budd stating, “President Biden is derelict in his duty to protect and defend our country.”
In the letter addressed to Secretary Mayorkas, Sen. Budd and the other senators raised alarms about the arrests of eight individuals from Tajikistan suspected of having terror links to ISIS. These individuals were able to cross the southern border and enter the U.S. over the past year and this year.
Of particular concern was a wiretap transcript showing that one of the arrested individuals had mentioned bombs, and that another individual who was the target of the wiretap had previously been released by federal authorities at the southern border with a court date set for next year. The senators expressed worry that federal authorities failed to detect any ISIS ties during initial vetting and only learned about these connections in recent weeks.
The senators also highlighted other instances where illegal immigrants on the terrorist watch list had been released into the U.S., underscoring the heightened threat posed by such individuals. The letter referenced a November 2023 hearing where FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged ongoing terrorism investigations involving certain individuals.
Given the serious nature of these threats to American security, the senators urged DHS to provide a briefing to address their concerns and respond to several key questions by a specified deadline.
The lawmakers requested Secretary Mayorkas to disclose the identities of all arrested individuals, clarify how, when, and why they entered the U.S., and indicate whether they sought asylum upon entry. Additionally, they sought details on the vetting process conducted for these individuals, inquiring about their affiliations with ISIS or other terror groups, and whether they were part of a broader network within the U.S.
Further queries included whether the individuals were planning a terrorist attack, possessed any weapons, and what measures were being taken to prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future.
This letter from Sen. Budd and his colleagues follows a similar demand for answers from Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., directed at FBI Director Wray. Both incidents underscore a shared concern about suspected terrorists and watch-list subjects exploiting vulnerabilities at the U.S. border to gain entry.
During recent testimonies, FBI Director Wray highlighted the increasing threats posed by various foreign terrorist organizations since recent attacks in the Middle East, emphasizing the potential for coordinated attacks against the U.S. and its allies. The urgent need to bolster homeland security measures has become a top priority.
The signatories of the letter, which included several Republican senators from different states, emphasized the critical need for immediate action to secure the U.S. border and prevent further infiltration by individuals with terror ties. The safety and protection of American citizens remain paramount in addressing these security challenges.
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