Concerns escalate over terrorists seeking entry at US southern border

Suspected terrorists could potentially use the southern border to gain entry into the United States. This concern has escalated in recent days as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

During the week of Oct. 15, Fox News reported the apprehension of individuals described as “special interest aliens” from Iran and Lebanon as they tried to cross into the U.S.

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Special Interest Aliens (SIAs) are individuals whose travel patterns may raise national security concerns for the U.S. However, there has been no confirmation of their terrorist status.

Nevertheless, apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terrorist watchlist have significantly increased. According to the most recent data for fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Protection has detained 154 migrants whose identities match those on the terrorist screening dataset while trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. This marks a substantial rise from 100 in fiscal year 2022 and only 16 in 2021.

Reportedly, there have been tens of thousands of SIAs at the southern border from countries like Iran, Syria, and Egypt, although this data was leaked to Fox News. Consequently, reports about the 60,000 special interest aliens are primarily from right-leaning sources.

According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the left. The Media Landscape indicates that while right-leaning outlets are covering this story, fewer – if any – left-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.

The issue of security in the United States has gained renewed focus following the attacks on Israel. Speaking at an event with a focus on combating antisemitism, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “First and foremost, we are partnering with state and local officials to stay vigilant in the wake of insensitive and dangerous calls to action by former Hamas leadership and pro-Hamas organizations.”

It’s essential to recognize that not everyone on the watchlist is a suspected terrorist. The 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment states that those on the watchlist may include people who are family members of suspected terrorists and individuals associated with terrorism.

Apprehending and removing individuals engaged in terrorist activities is a top priority for the Biden administration. In recent statements, the White House emphasized that there were no indications that the migrants had terrorist links or were plotting an attack.

This weekend, Hamas’s former chief, Khaled Meshaal, called for a global day of protest and rage to support Palestine’s fight against Israel. So far, no credible threat has been found.

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