House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) has raised alarms about ISIS-affiliated terrorists who have entered the United States illegally via the southern border and are currently unaccounted for within the country.
In a recent interview on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” Turner emphasized the dual nature of terrorist threats facing the U.S.: domestic radicalization and the infiltration of foreign terrorists.
He stated, “There are individuals that are affiliated with ISIS and terrorist groups and organizations that have crossed the border, that are inside the United States.”
Turner referenced FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, where Wray confirmed the presence of such individuals in the U.S.
Turner noted that law enforcement agencies are actively working to locate and apprehend these individuals to prevent potential attacks.
However, he acknowledged the challenges involved, stating, “We do not know where they are… we need to find them to protect Americans.”
This revelation comes amid increasing concerns about national security and the effectiveness of border control measures.
The apprehension of individuals on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist at the southern border has seen a significant rise in recent years.
In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol reported apprehending 151 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches who entered the U.S. illegally along the southern border, an all-time high for the region.
The situation underscores the complexities of border security and the imperative for robust measures to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a threat to national security.
As law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to locate these individuals, the incident highlights the ongoing challenges in securing the nation’s borders against potential terrorist infiltration.
WATCH:
Chairman @RepMikeTurner to @MargBrennan on @FaceTheNation about the threat of ISIS members operating inside America:
“These individuals are here. We need to locate them. We need to remove them. We need to bring them to justice and prevent them from doing harm to Americans.” pic.twitter.com/Si4VvS8SWw
— House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) January 5, 2025