President Donald Trump has directed his administration to aggressively pursue individuals with terrorist ties who entered the US through the southwest border during former President Joe Biden’s government.
Through an intergovernmental effort, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working in conjunction with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to identify, detain, and deport terrorist-affiliated individuals.
According to ODNI, over 400 and 750 illegal immigrants affiliated with ISIS and narco-terrorist cartels, respectively, have been identified and are in the process of being detained and removed.
“ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is working to help secure our borders, identify those already in our country illegally who pose a threat to the American people, and get them removed,” said Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
Director Gabbard further explained she is pushing for reforms in vetting processes, such as having suspected individuals vetted through a single source, which she claims will “streamline processes to prevent terrorists from entering our country.”
Last February, President Trump designated numerous drug cartels operating throughout South, Central, and North America as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO).
The FTO designation expands financial sanctions against the cartels and authorizes the use of military force against them.
During President Biden’s administration, relaxed immigration law enforcement enabled suspected ISIS terrorists to enter the US illegally.
At least eight individuals entered the US through the southern border, and one of them reportedly did so via the CBP One app, created by the Biden administration to streamline border crossings.
According to NBC News, all eight individuals had been on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Moreover, an ISIS-affiliated criminal human trafficking organization illegally transported hundreds of individuals into the US during Biden’s presidency.
According to an ODNI press release, however, the Trump administration is managing to counter the threat of illegal entries of terrorists and deter illegal immigration more broadly.
“President Trump’s commitment to securing our border has resulted in a historic decline in illegal border crossings, and arrests and deportation of criminals who entered our country illegally,” reads the press release.
