99 migrants on terror list released into US, some granted bond, asylum: Report

[KARAH RUCKER]

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS – MORE THAN 250 MIGRANTS ON THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST ENTERED THE U.S. ILLEGALLY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. AT LEAST 99 OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE LATER ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS INFORMATION COMES FROM A REPORT BY THE REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. THE REPORT SAYS THAT MANY OF THESE MIGRANTS CAME FROM COUNTRIES KNOWN FOR HAVING ACTIVE TERRORIST GROUPS, SUCH AS AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, AND SYRIA.

THE NATIONALS ON THE TERROR WATCH LIST WHO FOUND THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BORDER CAME FROM A TOTAL OF 36 COUNTRIES.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES LISTED IN THE REPORT.

EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO CAME FROM TAJIKISTAN WERE ARRESTED IN JUNE FOR POSSIBLE TIES TO ISIS.

3 OF THEM ENTERED THROUGH THE “CBP ONE APP” WHICH IS USED TO SCHEDULE BORDER APPOINTMENTS FROM A CELL PHONE.

AN INDIVIDUAL FROM UZBEKISTAN WHO WAS ON THE TERROR WATCHLIST – WAS VETTED AND RELEASED BY OFFICIALS ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. HE LIVED IN THE U.S. FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE BEING ARRESTED BY ICE IN APRIL.

ONE NAMED INDIVIDUAL FROM AFGHANISTAN WAS RELEASED BY BORDER OFFICIALS INTO THE U.S. IN MARCH OF 2023 AND SPENT NEARLY A YEAR LIVING HERE AFTER A JUDGE DEEMED THE INDIVIDUAL “NOT TO BE A THREAT.” 

HE WAS ARRESTED BY ICE IN FEBRUARY.

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SAYS THIS IS AN UNSETTLING TREND –

OF OFFICIALS AT THE BORDER – AND IN THE COURTS – ENCOUNTERING MIGRANTS ON THE TERROR WATCH LIST – YET MISSING IT AND RELEASING THEM.

THERE ARE 27 LISTED EXAMPLES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS STANDING BEFORE IMMIGRATION JUDGES AND BEING GRANTED BOND.

4 OF THEM WERE GRANTED ASYLUM – ACCORDING TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE REPORT TAKES AIM AT THOSE AT THE TOP – SAYING “DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas repeatedly claims that illegal aliens are adequately screened and “individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety are detained.”11 But the on-the-ground reality reflects serious—and potentially dangerous—flaws in the open-borders policies.”

THE COMMITTEE SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES – IS MIGRANTS USING “FAKE DOCUMENTS” TO GET THROUGH BORDER CHECKS.

THE OTHER ISSUE THEY CITE – IS THE CURRENT “CATCH AND RELEASE” SYSTEM IN PLACE – WHERE PEOPLE WHO CROSS THE BORDER ARE ALLOWED TO WAIT INSIDE THE U.S. IF THEY’RE SEEKING ASYLUM.

THE REPORT COMES AS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS JUST THREE MONTHS AWAY – AND IMMIGRATION IS A KEY ISSUE FOR BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

REPUBLICANS ATTACKING KAMALA HARRIS’ RECORD AS THE PERSON OVERSEEING BORDER POLICIES EARLY ON IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN THERE WERE RECORD CROSSINGS.

WHILE HER RECORD IS DEFENDED BY DEMOCRATS – POINTING TO RECENT EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS LOWERED THE NUMBER OF BORDER CROSSINGS IN RECENT MONTHS.

THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT – ENDING ON A SOMBERING NOTE –

SUGGESTING “the worst could still be yet to come” –

POINTING TO A FAMILIAR IMMIGRATION PATTERN THE COUNTRY SAW IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO 9/11.