DHS Counterterrorism Coordinator John Cohen says: “It is just factually inaccurate to frame the southern border as a place where we are seeing a significant number of al-Qaida or ISIS-related terrorists or foreign terrorists.”
How many is “significant”?
“Official Slams Claims of Terrorists Infiltrating US From Mexico,” by Jeff Seldin, VOA News, October 28, 2021:
WASHINGTON — Fears the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan could reinvigorate terror groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State, and lead to a surge of attempted infiltrations along the southern U.S. border have not been realized, a top counterterrorism official said, dismissing claims to the contrary as “factually inaccurate.”
For months, mostly Republican lawmakers have warned of an unprecedented number of encounters by law enforcement and border patrol agents with known or suspected terrorists trying to enter the United States from Mexico.
One fact sheet distributed earlier this week by Republican Representative John Katko, the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, warned terrorists “are crossing the border ‘at a level we have never seen before.'”
But the Department of Homeland Security’s top counterterrorism official rejected such allegations Thursday, telling an online forum there is no evidence to back them up.
“That just simply is not the case,” DHS Counterterrorism Coordinator John Cohen said in response to a question from VOA. “It is just factually inaccurate to frame the southern border as a place where we are seeing a significant number of al-Qaida or ISIS-related terrorists or foreign terrorists.”
Cohen did not share any specific data on the number of encounters with known or suspected terrorists along the U.S. border with Mexico, characterizing it only as “very low.”
He said such encounters are also “low in comparison to people who are seeking to travel to the United States through the aviation infrastructure, through the northern border.”
The refusal to publicly disclose the actual number of encounters with terrorists along the U.S. southern border with Mexico has been a point of contention with Republican lawmakers, who have repeatedly pressed DHS to share the information.
During a hearing in September, Louisiana Republican Representative Clay Higgins chastised Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for ignoring an “obvious threat.”
“I’m 60 years old, I’ve never seen anything like this in America,” Higgins told Mayorkas. “We’ve been invaded.”
Higgins further alleged a source told him that about 200 known or suspected terrorists have been detected crossing the southern border, calling it a “conservative estimate.”…
Other lawmakers have pointed to a September 11, 2021, letter from former U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, which warned, “control of our borders has disintegrated overnight.”
Gaps in border security are “exploited to easily smuggle contraband, criminals, or even potential terrorists into the U.S. at will,” Scott wrote, urging lawmakers to request detailed data.
“You will find this data troubling,” he wrote. “This is not hyperbole.”
Mayorkas and other officials admit data does exist, but say it is classified, and that claims like those by Scott mischaracterize the situation.
“Our border security efforts are layered and include multiple levels of rigorous screening that allow us to detect and prevent people who pose national security or public safety risks from entering the United States,” an official with CBP told VOA last month.
“Encounters of known and suspected terrorists at our borders are very uncommon,” the official added.
However, such encounters do happen.
In April, CBP admitted it had stopped two men from Yemen, both on the U.S. terror watch list and the FBI’s No-Fly List, from trying to cross into the state of California.
The separate incidents, one from January and one from March, were only disclosed after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy went on Fox News and charged border patrol agents were now finding known or suspected terrorists from Yemen, Iran and Turkey….
somehistory says
Anytime this government says something is “classified,” be prepared to think the worst.
They lie, must be learning more and more of that from mozlums of whom they have become so protective, and just don’t want the public, “The People” to know just how cotton-picking bad it is.
They realize that, just as the French Revolution happened, they are vulnerable in their gated buildings, and the more the “People” know about their evil intentions…bringing in terrorists…(“factually inaccurate” means he’s lying…otherwise, just say that number is wrong)…and giving them money…wow funding terror from the taxpaying public’s pockets…
When pigs actually sprout wings and fly over the barnyard and away to a safe haven, then we can believe this lying fool from the dhs. (deceptive, hustling sneaks)
Wellington says
I no longer believe anything a “government official” contends until it is independently verified.
Yes, sadly it has come to this. And I would assert that at least 125 million Americans think as I do. Probably far more. Yes, it has come to this, i.e., the American government is now in the position of the British government back in the 1760’s and early 1770’s, i.e., the “enemy.”.
Oh yeah, time for another Revolution. You betcha’.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“I no longer believe anything a “government official” contends until it is independently verified.”
A very wise policy…
tgusa says
“it is classified’ The real meaning, we cant let the American people know what we in the establishment have done and are still doing. The establishment if fine with this as long as the islamists confine their operations to attacking ordinary American shoppers at the mall.
DHS needs to be renamed DHI, Department of Homeland Insecurity. The establishment has made a giant mess out of things and they have no idea how to get out of it.
Peacelover says
We have complete idiots running our country from the White House
JANET says
THEY act as criminals from the White House and no doubt get a pay off too.
Peacelover says
,,,,idiots and then those with an agenda,of course
gravenimage says
Congressman says terrorists are crossing border ‘at a level we have never seen before,’ DHS says that’s ‘inaccurate’
…………….
And how many are not being caught? Most of those crossing the border are not caught.
GreekEmpress says
It’s gotten really bad here again. Border crossers are in our neighborhoods, backyards, etc. at night. It hasn’t been this bad since early June. Unlike June, though, we don’t have many sightings of Border Patrol. They are few and far between now, with everything that’s going on.
Walter Sieruk says
This border crisis all started with Joe Biden and is getting worse , no matter how many denials ,attempted coverup’s of this awful and tragic reality. are make by a DHS official spokesmen are made.
The border needs to be closed and secure yet that subversive fiend who is the President pretender, Biden, wouldn’t allow this because he obviously wants open borders because he obviously hates the United States and her citizens.
James Lincoln says
Walter,
Yes, Biden and his handlers WANT open borders.
The care nothing about US citizens – and want to bring in future Democrat voters no matter what the cost to the country.
Permanent one-party rule…
GreekEmpress says
It certainly feels that way down here in the border where I am.
somehistory says
For years, ranchers have been complaining about the trespassers on their property, taking things and leaving trash behind…including the book of filth that is islam along with their rugs for preying.
I feel for all who have that as a daily thing. Stress must be unreal.
OLD GUY says
Hate to tell DHS it only takes one terrorist to walk over that southern border to cost the lives of hundreds of American Citizens. Biden’s open border program is going to cost some of our citizens their lives, just a matter of time before one of these Muslim/Islamic migration invaders strikes our neck.
Jim says
Probably it is easy for terrorists to come in by the normal ways the terrorists have used in the past. Especially under Biden immigration rules. They may not need to sneak across the borders.
James Lincoln says
Walter,
Yes, Biden and his handlers WANT open borders.
The care nothing about US citizens – and want to bring in future Democrat voters no matter what the cost to the country.
Permanent one-party rule…