Hundreds of individuals on the terror watchlist have been encountered at the southern border since President Biden took office, leading to widespread fears of a large-scale terror attack occurring soon. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently wrote a joint letter to Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) calling for a hearing on this most pressing of issues.
"Over the past three years, the current administration's policies have effectively opened our borders, allowing millions, including individuals with potential criminal and terrorist intent, to enter the United States unchecked," Sens. Scott and Rubio wrote.
The demand comes shortly after the recent arrests of eight men from Tajikistan suspected of having ties to the Islamic State (ISIS), a troubling piece of news in light of the statistics showing over 360 individuals on the terror watchlist encountered at the southern border.
Such a worry is only exacerbated by the shockingly high number of "gotaways" who entered the country undetected, estimated to be approximately 2 million people.
Additionally, Scott and Rubio point out that earlier in June, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke before the House Judiciary Committee on the threat of a terror attack, saying, "I'm worried about the possibility of a terrorist attack in the country after October 7. The threat level has gone up enormously. Every morning, we worry about this question."
Similarly, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray has expressed concern several times, most recently telling a Senate subcommittee that "We have seen over the last five to six years an increase in the number of known or suspected terrorists, in other words, watchlisted suspects attempting to cross the border."
As a result, the Florida Senators argue, "Faced with elevated threats, it is well past time to hold a public hearing on the danger of terrorism facilitated by easy access across the border. For over three years, members of this Committee have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the need for oversight of the crisis at the Southwest border. The policies implemented by the Biden administration have directly contributed to unprecedented levels of illegal immigration, exposing a vulnerability that bad actors can exploit to enter the country."
