A recent House report reveals alarming statistics about illegal immigration and national security under the Biden administration. According to the report, nearly 100 individuals on the terror watchlist have been released into the United States since President Biden took office. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, Border Patrol encountered over 250 illegal aliens on the watchlist at the southwest border. Of these, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allowed at least 99 to remain in American communities, with 34 others still in custody but not yet deported.
The report, obtained by Fox News Digital, highlights that immigration judges have granted bond to at least 27 of these watchlisted migrants. Additionally, Border Patrol has encountered migrants from numerous countries with potential national security concerns, including 2,134 from Afghanistan, 33,347 from China, 541 from Iran, 520 from Syria, and 3,104 from Uzbekistan. The report also notes that tens of thousands of other migrants from countries with known terror connections have been apprehended.
The scope of the problem is even more concerning when considering the “gotaways” – migrants who evade Border Patrol and slip into the U.S. undetected. Since the Biden administration began, nearly 2 million such individuals have entered the country. Border Patrol has also encountered individuals on the terror watchlist from 36 different nations, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.
The report underscores a 3,000% increase in encounters with individuals on the watchlist since Biden took office. Despite calls for more effective border security and immigration reforms, the Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans for reversing successful Trump-era policies, which they argue has led to this crisis.
Further complicating matters, recent investigations have revealed that ISIS-affiliated smuggling networks have facilitated the entry of individuals from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including those with ties to terror groups. For instance, eight Tajikistan nationals linked to ISIS were apprehended at various U.S. locations, all having entered illegally through the southern border without prior detection of their affiliations.
The Judiciary Committee’s interim report warns that the current administration’s immigration policies, which emphasize open borders, could have dire national security implications. The committee asserts that it is crucial for policymakers to prioritize securing the border and addressing these vulnerabilities to prevent potential terror threats.