Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a stark warning this week, asserting that the U.S. will face an influx of terrorists crossing the southern border if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the upcoming presidential election. His claims were based on explosive testimony from a former high-ranking U.S. Border Patrol official, which he discussed during his “Verdict” podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson.
Cruz specifically referenced the testimony of Aaron Heitke, the retired Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Border Patrol sector, who provided alarming details to the House Homeland Security Committee. Heitke’s statements underscored the severe national security risks posed by the Biden administration’s border policies, revealing a surge in apprehensions of individuals with potential ties to terrorism, also known as “Significant Interest Aliens” (SIAs).
“In San Diego, we saw a massive increase in SIAs, which are aliens with known connections to terrorist activities,” Heitke testified. “Before the Biden-Harris administration, our sector averaged between 10 and 15 SIA arrests each year. However, after the administration loosened border security measures, that number skyrocketed. In 2022, we apprehended over 100 SIAs, a number that has continued to grow in 2023 and is on track to exceed that this year. And these are just the individuals we caught.”
Heitke further revealed that, during his tenure, he was forbidden by the Biden-Harris administration from publicly disclosing the alarming spike in SIAs. “I was told I could not release any information about this increase or discuss any of these arrests,” Heitke said, suggesting that the administration sought to downplay the potential security threat in order to avoid political backlash. “They wanted to convince the public that there was no threat at the border.”
Cruz, a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, seized on Heitke’s testimony, describing the surge in terrorist suspects crossing the border as “massive” and a clear indicator of policy failure. “This is what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have done,” Cruz said. “You look at the numbers—just in one sector, the San Diego sector, we’ve gone from about 10 arrests to over 100 per year. That’s an enormous increase in suspected terrorists coming into this country. And those are just the ones we managed to catch. How many more slipped through undetected?”
The senator argued that these figures represent a clear and present danger to U.S. national security and are part of a broader pattern of failure on the part of the Biden administration to secure the border. “We’re talking about hundreds of suspected terrorists entering the country every year, and this administration is keeping the public in the dark about it,” Cruz said. He accused the administration of prioritizing politics over national security, asserting, “With Democrats, it’s all about political optics. They don’t want the American people to know how bad the situation really is.”
Cruz was particularly critical of the media for what he views as a lack of coverage on such critical testimony. “I understand why the Biden White House wouldn’t want this to be public, but how is it that this testimony isn’t on the front page of every major newspaper?” he asked. “If the press is not going to do its job and report on these national security risks, then it’s up to the American people to use their voices and demand action.”
The Texas senator went on to predict dire consequences if Kamala Harris were to become president. “If Kamala Harris wins the presidency, God help us,” Cruz warned. “This will continue. More terrorists will cross our borders, unchecked and undetected. More Americans will be at risk. We’ll see more terror attacks, more murders, more rapists, more child molesters entering this country, and more innocent Americans will die as a result.”
Heitke’s testimony, combined with Cruz’s forceful rhetoric, has brought renewed attention to the contentious issue of border security ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Republicans have long criticized the Biden-Harris administration for what they see as a lax approach to border control, accusing them of allowing record levels of illegal immigration and creating dangerous vulnerabilities for potential terrorists to exploit.
In contrast, the Biden administration has maintained that its policies are focused on creating a more humane and orderly immigration system, with a focus on addressing the root causes of migration in Central America. The administration also contends that border security remains a priority, noting increased investments in personnel, technology, and international cooperation to mitigate security risks.
Despite these assurances, Cruz and other Republicans argue that the numbers paint a far bleaker picture and that without a change in leadership, the U.S. will remain vulnerable to potential terrorist threats from its southern border. As the 2024 election looms, immigration and border security are expected to remain central issues in the political discourse, with Cruz positioning himself as a staunch advocate for stricter border control.
The broader implications of the testimony, coupled with Cruz’s warnings, have sparked renewed debate over the effectiveness of current border security measures and the potential consequences of future policy decisions. Whether or not the testimony will lead to substantial policy shifts or influence public opinion ahead of the election remains to be seen. However, the issue is unlikely to disappear from the national stage anytime soon.
The Biden-Harris border crisis is even worse than you think. A Border Patrol whistleblower’s testimony uncovered shocking new evidence.
If Kamala Harris is elected president, even more Americans will die from the border crisis.https://t.co/nHF8D2pkes pic.twitter.com/9W4POoUsB9
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 20, 2024