In a recent development at the U.S.-Mexico border, Border Patrol agents apprehended an Afghan national who was on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist. The individual reportedly entered the United States illegally by crossing the southern border near Otay Mesa, California. This news, shared by Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin, has sparked concerns regarding national security and immigration policies.
According to multiple sources within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the arrest was made last week, and the FBI has confirmed the match, taking the lead in the investigation. When approached for comments, both CBP and the FBI declined to provide specific details on the ongoing inquiry, emphasizing their commitment to identifying and assessing potential threats in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
This incident has further intensified the discussion surrounding border security and immigration policies. Critics argue that the Biden administration’s approach, often labeled as “open border policies,” has contributed to a range of issues, including drug trafficking and illegal immigration. Some Democrats have also voiced their concerns about the administration’s handling of the border situation.
Amid preparations for an expected influx of migrants at the border, the expiration of the pandemic-era Title 42 added to the challenges faced by authorities. Title 42 allowed for the swift expulsion of migrants at the border on public health grounds. Consequently, multiple cities and even a state declared emergencies in anticipation of a surge in migrants, many of whom seek legal pathways for entry.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, defending the administration’s actions, pointed out the significant progress made over the past 18 months in addressing border-related issues. Mayorkas highlighted a drop in Border Patrol encounters by half in the two days since Title 42 came to an end. However, critics, including Republican Representative Darrell Issa, have argued that the Biden administration’s policies are inviting dangerous criminals, including terrorists, into the country.
Representative Issa, whose district lies along California’s southern border, confirmed the arrest of the Afghan national through a contact within CBP. Issa criticized President Biden’s perceived leniency on border security, claiming that it not only facilitates illegal immigration and human trafficking but also poses a significant threat in terms of national security and the ongoing drug crisis.
.@BillFOXLA reports that border patrol agents arrested an Afghan national who crossed illegally and was on the FBI’s terror watchlist. pic.twitter.com/MkPbQ7fe4Z
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 14, 2023
