An increasing number of individuals featured on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist have been attempting to cross into the United States through its southern border, a trend that former Representative Mike Rogers, who is campaigning for a Senate seat in Michigan, attributes to policies under the current administration.
Rogers, during an interview on “National Report,” emphasized the consequences of what he perceives as an open-border stance. “The lack of stringent measures at the southern border is leading to this influx,” Rogers remarked on Thursday. He raised concerns about the unknown quantity of watchlisted individuals entering the U.S., suggesting that where there is one, there could be many.
Rogers also pointed out that the perception of easy entry into the U.S. and the prospect of a comfortable life thereafter is attracting people from various countries, including Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela. This perception, he argues, is particularly appealing to those connected to terrorism, who may now be residing in the country undetected, posing a security threat.
In a report from the Department of Homeland Security in September, it was revealed that during the fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Protection apprehended 160 migrants matching identities on the Terrorist Screening Dataset at the U.S.-Mexico border. This figure shows an increase from the 100 individuals apprehended in the previous fiscal year, highlighting a growing concern at the border.
