SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) led a group of 21 Senators in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking answers after individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended at the southern border, vetted, and subsequently released into the United States.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested these individuals following a wiretap that reportedly caught one discussing bombs.

Senator Budd stated: “President Biden is derelict in his duty to protect and defend our country. These incidents highlight the extreme national security risks posed by the open southern border. We need to expose what happened here, and make sure it never happens again. We need to secure the border and stop the chaos.”

The letter was co-signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tim Scott (R-SC), JD Vance (R-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rick Scott (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Todd Young (R-IN), Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Pete Ricketts(R-NE).

The letter expressed concerns about reports of ICE arrests of eight individuals from Tajikistan suspected of having terror ties to ISIS who crossed the southern border last year and this year. It was reported that two of these individuals crossed in spring 2023, with one using the CBP One app for entry into the U.S. Concerns arose from reports indicating that federal authorities initially failed to detect any ISIS ties during vetting upon entry.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress regarding potential coordinated attacks similar to those executed by ISIS-Khorasan at a Russia concert hall recently. He also noted concerns about smuggling networks with overseas facilitators linked to ISIS.

There have been several instances where aliens on terrorist watchlists were released into the U.S., including Afghan national Mohammad Kharwin, linked to Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin; a Somali individual connected to Al-Shabaab; and Jovokhir Attoev from Uzbekistan tied to ISIS.

Additionally, on May 3, two Jordanian nationals posing as Amazon subcontractors attempted unauthorized access at Marine Corps Base Quantico; one had an expired student visa while another entered illegally via California.

Border Patrol encounters with noncitizens on terrorist watchlists have surged under President Biden’s administration. The number increased from 11 between fiscal years 2017-2020 combined, rising steadily each year since FY 2021 through FY 2024 as of mid-May.

During hearings earlier this year, Secretary Mayorkas did not directly address whether individuals on terror watchlists were apprehended or still at large but emphasized they are prioritized for detention.

Given these threats' severity, Senators requested DHS briefings by June 25, addressing specific questions about identities, entry points, asylum claims resolutions if any exist for those arrested; vetting processes followed; potential affiliations with terrorist organizations or broader networks inside U.S.; planned actions towards attacks including possession dangerous items such weapons/explosives among others considerations.