Homeland Republicans Demand Answers from DHS, FBI on Palestinian Nationals with Terrorist Ties Entering U.S. Illegally at Southwest Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA), Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) sent a letter demanding answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray following reports of three Palestinian nationals and one Turkish national who were detained after illegally crossing the Southwest border and were found to have terrorist ties. Read the full letter here and excerpts below.

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In the letter, the Chairmen state, "We write seeking information about the recently reported arrests of three Palestinian nationals and one Turkish national, who have terrorist ties and were detained after they illegally crossed the U.S. Southwest border. It is unclear whether these individuals have ties to Hamas, Hizballah, or another U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. According to news media citing federal law enforcement sources, '[o]ne of the [foreign nationals] had 'salacious photos' on their phone - including a picture of a masked man holding an AK-47 rifle . . . .'"

The Chairmen continue, "These recent arrests highlight a systemic pattern in the rise of known or suspected terrorists attempting to, and successfully, crossing the Southwest border. Just two months ago, media reported that eight Tajikistanis with ties to ISIS were arrested in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia after they had illegally crossed the border. Weeks prior, the Department identified over 400 migrants who crossed into the United States with the help of an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network. The whereabouts of more than 50 individuals within this group remains unknown. These incidents further reflect a persistent trend, not only in illegal terrorist-affiliated U.S. border crossings, but also the failed open-border policies by the Biden-Harris administration."

The Chairmen conclude, "We remain concerned about the threat of a 'lone wolf' actor or multiple actors attempting to commit a terrorist attack in the United States. The Committee finds unacceptable that the Biden-Harris administration is dangerously failing to take measures to safeguard U.S. national security."

Background:

The Biden administration's open-borders policies represent an unprecedented threat to America's national security. At least 375 individuals on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended attempting to illegally cross our Southwest border between ports of entry since the beginning of FY2021-an increase of more than 3,000 percent compared to FY2017-2020. Individuals from more than 160 countries have been apprehended crossing the border illegally, including aliens from countries on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The Committee has documented how DHS' processes for screening and vetting of inadmissible border crossers are wholly inadequate.

In June, eight Tajikistani nationals with ties to ISIS were arrested in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia after they had illegally crossed into the United States through the Southwest border-one of these individuals used the CBP One app to gain entry. Only weeks later, it was reported that DHS had identified over 400 individuals who crossed into the United States illegally with the help of an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network. The whereabouts of more than 50 of these individuals remain unknown.

On June 18, Chairman Green sent Mayorkas and Wray a letter demanding documents and a briefing pertaining to the individuals with connections to ISIS who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia earlier in the month.

Following these alarming reports, on July 12, Chairman Green subpoenaed Mayorkas for information on national security threats at America's borders. The subpoena comes after more than a year of the department's stonewalling and failure to satisfy the Committee's document and information requests related to the record number of inadmissible aliens on the Terrorist Screening Data Set (TSDS) who are crossing the Southwest border between ports of entry.

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens testified to the Committee during a May 2023 transcribed interview that he was "absolutely" concerned that the high flow of illegal aliens through the Del Rio Sector was impeding agents' ability to reduce the number of gotaways. The Committee is concerned this could allow suspected terrorists the opportunity to cross our borders undetected.

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