Report: 23 Migrants On Terror List Stopped At Southern Border In 2021

U.S. Border Patrol apprehended at least 23 individuals crossing the southern border that are on the nation’s terror watchlist in 2021, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information.

“Between Jan. 20 and Dec. 27, 2021, there were 23 encounters with individuals whose names matched on the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB),” Fox News reported.

“Four were in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, 4 in Del Rio Sector, 3 in El Paso Sector, 2 in Tucson Sector, 2 in Yuma Sector, 4 in El Centro Sector and 4 in San Diego Sector,” Fox News continued, adding that the information was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted in December.

“Reporting indicates that multiple individuals with terrorist ties have been recently apprehended after illegally crossing the border, and that such encounters may be increasing,” Reps. James Comer and John Katko, who serve as ranking members on the Oversight and Homeland Security committees respectively, said in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to Fox News.

“The American people deserve to know whether President Biden’s weak border policies are allowing terrorists to enter our homeland,” they added.

The news comes shortly after Customs and Border Protection announced that over 221,000 migrants were encountered at the southern border in March, the highest number since President Biden took office.

“Customs and Border Protection said in a court filing Friday that 221,303 migrants were encountered at the southern border in March. That’s approximately 28% higher than March 2021 when 173,277 migrants were encountered. In March 2020, just 34,460 migrants were encountered at the border,” Fox News reported.

“The number is bigger than last year’s high of 213,953 in July and is the third time under Biden that there have been more than 200,000 migrants at the border — which only occurred in two months at the height of the 2021 surge,” the outlet continued. “While numbers dipped since July, they have remained comparatively high compared to the same months in prior years — never dipping below 150,000. Now, as the spring and summer months approach, they are already well above 200,000.”

As noted by Fox News’ Bill Melugin, “This means there have been 1,026,460 encounters in the first 6 months of FY’ 22, which began on 10/1. In the first 6 months of record setting FY’21, there were only 570,826  encounters.  This means the first 6 months of FY’22 are up 79% over the first 6 months of FY’21”

This means there have been 1,026,460 encounters in the first 6 months of FY' 22, which began on 10/1. In the first 6 months of record setting FY'21, there were only 570,826  encounters. 
This means the first 6 months of FY'22 are up 79% over the first 6 months of FY'21 @FoxNews

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 16, 2022