Terror watchlist apprehensions at US-Mexico border increase dramatically.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people on the federal terrorism watchlist being apprehended at the US-Mexico border. In the 12 months ending September 30, 2021, there were 11 people stopped from crossing into the US, however, between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022, this number spiked to 98. This is in addition to the 2.2 million people encountered at the southern border in 2022, and the estimated 1.2 million “gotaways” since Biden took office, half of which were in 2022 alone.
President Biden has been facing growing pressure to tackle the escalating border crisis, both from his critics on the right, and some members of his own party. In early January, Biden travelled to the southern border in Texas for the first time since becoming president, however, this was dismissed by Border Patrol agents as too little, too late. Texas GOP Governor, Greg Abbott, handed the president a letter harshly criticizing his policies pertaining to border protection.
The federal terrorism watchlist was established after the 9/11 attacks as a federal database of known terrorists who are not US citizens, and has since expanded to include suspected terrorists and their known affiliates. These people are being stopped while attempting to cross into the US between official points of entry. The dramatic increase in crossings of known or suspected terrorists is a cause for concern, and the US government must take action to ensure the safety of its citizens.
The US government must ensure that the border remains secure, and that those attempting to enter the US are doing so legally. This means implementing the necessary measures to prevent those on the federal terrorism watchlist from crossing into the US. The Biden administration must also work to address the root causes of illegal immigration, such as poverty and violence in Central American countries, in order to reduce the number of people attempting to cross the border illegally.
The US government must take action to ensure the safety of its citizens, and to prevent those on the federal terrorism watchlist from crossing into the US. This includes implementing the necessary measures to secure the border, as well as addressing the root causes of illegal immigration. Only then can the US government be sure that its citizens are safe, and that those attempting to cross the border are doing so legally.
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