House Committee Hears Dire Warnings on Terrorist Presence in the U.S.

 This week, the House Oversight Committee convened multiple hearings to address the escalating border crisis and the concerning rise in the number of terrorists entering the U.S. Lawmakers sharply criticized the Biden-Harris administration, highlighting what they perceive as dangerous policies that have left Americans vulnerable. They pointed to an “open-door” approach to migration and accused the administration of covering up the true scale of illegal entries, preventing the public from knowing the full extent of the threat.

Increase in “Special Interest Migrants”

On Wednesday, September 18, retired Border Patrol Sector Chief Aaron Heitke from San Diego testified before the committee. Heitke revealed a significant rise in “special interest migrants” during Biden's tenure. Prior to 2022, he noted, only 10 to 15 people from this group were apprehended on average. But by 2022, that number exceeded 100, and by 2023, it surpassed 200. Heitke added a troubling detail:

“These are only the ones we caught. I was told not to release any information about the increase in special interest migrants or mention any arrests. The administration was trying to convince the public there was no threat at the border.”

Hearing on Terrorism and Homeland Security

The following day, Thursday, September 19, another hearing took place titled “Beyond the Border: Terrorism and Homeland Security Consequences of Illegal Immigration.” Several witnesses voiced strong opposition to current border policies, with one dissenting view asserting that the threat posed by terrorists crossing into the U.S. is exaggerated.

Dr. Kelly Brown, a 26-year Army combat veteran and former advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, testified about the stark differences in border security between April 2018 and January 2021. During that period, she said, agents, detection technologies, border walls, and military support were in place, ensuring the removal of illegal aliens. But with Biden’s inauguration in 2021, she claimed, “that system of systems was intentionally dismantled.” The shift in focus from border security to processing illegal aliens led to a dramatic surge in illegal crossings, jumping from 400,000 in 2020 to over 2 million by 2022 and 2023.

Brown also highlighted specific countries linked to terrorism and crime that have seen substantial numbers of illegal migrants entering the U.S. this fiscal year. These include Guatemala (181,000), Venezuela (133,000), and Honduras (101,000). She stressed that “over 14,500 known illegal aliens from state sponsors of terrorism, such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, have entered the U.S. this year alone.”

A Growing Threat of Terrorism?

Tim Healy, former director of the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), testified about the significance of even a single terrorist entering the country. He recounted the devastation caused by just 19 al-Qaeda operatives on 9/11 and the potential impact of the “Underwear Bomber,” Umar Abdulmutallab, in 2009. Healy stressed that apprehensions of known or suspected terrorists have surged, rising from just 14 arrests between 2017 and 2020 to 380 arrests from 2021 to 2024 under the Biden administration – a staggering 2,614% increase. He warned:

“Our country is facing a form of invasion. Until we take strong and decisive action, the U.S. remains dangerously vulnerable. A preventable attack on innocent Americans or critical infrastructure would be a travesty.”

Debate Over the Severity of the Threat

While most witnesses sounded alarms, one expert offered a different perspective. Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President of Economic and Social Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, argued that the threat posed by terrorists crossing the southern border is overstated. He pointed out that foreign-born terrorism has historically posed a minimal risk compared to other threats. Citing research from 1975 to 2023, he noted that foreign-born terrorists were responsible for approximately 3,046 deaths, but the annual risk of dying in a terrorist attack by a foreign-born individual is about 1 in 4.5 million. In contrast, the risk of being murdered in a non-terrorist homicide in the U.S. during that same period is far higher at 1 in 13,767.

Nowrasteh emphasized that domestic terrorism has caused more harm to Americans than foreign-born terrorists, casting doubt on the alarm raised by other witnesses.

A Divided Outlook

The testimonies during these hearings highlight a deep divide in the perception of the border crisis and the potential national security risks it poses. While some experts warn of an influx of migrants with terrorist affiliations, others argue the threat is being exaggerated. Despite differing views, the numbers point to an alarming increase in illegal crossings and apprehensions of individuals on terrorist watch lists, painting a troubling picture of the situation at the U.S. border.