Milwaukee City Wire

On Friday, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Ranking Member Rand Paul, M.D. (R-Ky.), and their HSGAC GOP colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman Gary Peters (D-Mich.) requesting a hearing to examine the threat of individuals exploiting the southern border for potential terrorist activities.

The letter outlines concerns regarding the Biden administration's handling of border security, citing an increase in individuals with potential criminal and terrorist intent crossing into the United States. The letter highlights recent arrests of eight foreign nationals with suspected ties to ISIS and notes that since 2021, 360 individuals on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while attempting to cross the Southwest border illegally.

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray have expressed concern over the increased number of known or suspected terrorists attempting to exploit what they describe as vulnerable border policies under the current administration. The senators are requesting a hearing with top officials from relevant federal agencies to discuss strategies for addressing this significant increase in terrorist entries.

Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) also signed the letter.

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