A group of senators, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R, WV), have raised concerns after eight individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles after crossing the southern border. Despite being monitored by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, there was no indication of their ties to a terrorist organization at the time they crossed the border. In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators expressed worry about the increasing number of encounters with individuals on the terrorist watchlist trying to enter the U.S., with numbers escalating from fiscal year 2017 to FY 2024. The senators requested information on the arrested individuals, including their identities, entry locations, asylum claims, vetting process, and potential connections to ISIS or other terrorist groups. They also asked whether the individuals were planning or preparing for a terrorist attack and if they possessed any dangerous items. Concerns have arisen about the vetting process and potential security risks posed by individuals with terrorist ties entering the country through the southern border. The senators are seeking answers and clarification on these matters from the Department of Homeland Security by June 25, 2024.
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