A Deep Dive into the National Security Implications of Lax Border Policies

The Biden-Harris administration’s open-borders policies have escalated into a full-blown national security crisis, with severe implications for the safety and security of the United States. According to a recent report by the House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, these policies have not only allowed millions of illegal aliens to enter the country but have also facilitated the entry of terrorists and other dangerous individuals intent on harming Americans.

The report, dated August 5, 2024, provides a grim assessment of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighting how the administration’s lack of stringent border enforcement has led to an alarming increase in the number of potential terrorists crossing into the United States. Since President Joe Biden took office, over 5.4 million illegal aliens have been released into the U.S., with an additional 1.9 million “gotaways” who evaded capture altogether. Among these millions are 375 individuals on the U.S. government’s terrorist watchlist, marking a staggering 3,000 percent increase in encounters with watchlisted individuals compared to the Trump administration.

The surge in illegal border crossings has created an unprecedented national security threat, with experts warning of the heightened risk of a terrorist attack emanating from the border crisis. The report draws parallels between the current situation and the pre-9/11 era, when border security was not adequately recognized as a national security concern, leading to one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Today, the same vulnerabilities are being exploited by bad actors, including terrorists who have successfully entered the country under the guise of seeking asylum.

The Biden-Harris administration’s approach to border security has been characterized by a series of policy decisions that critics argue have only exacerbated the problem. The administration’s focus on humanitarian concerns, particularly the treatment of migrant families and children, has been exploited by terrorists and criminal organizations who see the porous border as an opportunity to infiltrate the U.S. This has been compounded by the administration’s reliance on flawed vetting processes, as evidenced by the release of hundreds of illegal aliens on the terrorist watchlist into American communities.

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One of the most concerning aspects of the report is the revelation that the Biden-Harris administration has released at least 99 illegal aliens on the terrorist watchlist into the U.S., with another 34 in DHS custody who have not yet been removed from the country. These individuals hail from countries with a known terrorist presence, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria. The release of these individuals into the U.S. raises serious questions about the administration’s commitment to national security and its ability to protect American citizens from potential threats.

The report also highlights the inadequacies of the administration’s vetting process, noting that many of the individuals who were released were not initially flagged as potential threats. It was only after their release that additional information emerged linking them to terrorist activities. This delay in identifying and apprehending dangerous individuals has created significant challenges for law enforcement agencies, who are now tasked with tracking down and detaining these individuals after they have already entered the country.

The FBI has also raised alarms about the increasing number of terrorists attempting to enter the U.S. through the southwest border. In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in July 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed his concern about the growing threat posed by these individuals, noting that the FBI has seen an uptick in known or suspected terrorists crossing the border. He emphasized that the southern border represents a “massive security threat” and that the agency is struggling to keep up with the volume of potential threats.

The report goes on to detail several high-profile cases that illustrate the dangers posed by the administration’s open-borders policies. One such case involved an Afghan migrant on the terrorist watchlist who was released into the U.S. by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in March 2023. Despite being a member of a designated terrorist organization, the individual was released and remained in the U.S. for nearly a year before being rearrested. Shockingly, the individual was released again in March 2024 after an immigration judge, who was not informed of his ties to terrorism, granted him bond.

Another case involved eight illegal aliens from Tajikistan with potential ties to ISIS who were arrested in June 2024. These individuals had used the Biden-Harris administration’s CBP One phone application to schedule appointments at ports of entry, allowing them to enter the U.S. despite their connections to terrorist organizations. The fact that these individuals were able to bypass the administration’s vetting process and enter the country underscores the weaknesses in the current system and the urgent need for reform.

The report concludes by calling on the administration to take immediate action to secure the border and prevent further infiltration by terrorists and other bad actors. It recommends a series of legislative reforms, including the passage of the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which would enhance border security measures and close the loopholes that have allowed terrorists to enter the country. The report also urges the administration to improve its vetting processes and ensure that all individuals entering the U.S. are thoroughly screened before being released into the community.

In the meantime, the House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement have vowed to continue their oversight of the administration’s border policies. They have pledged to keep the American people informed about the growing threats to national security and to hold the administration accountable for its failure to protect the homeland.

As the situation at the border continues to deteriorate, the need for decisive action has never been more urgent. The safety and security of the American people are at stake, and the administration must prioritize border security over political agendas. The time to act is now, before the nation faces another devastating attack.