The future of U.S. national security hinges on the decisions policymakers make regarding immigration policies, as questions loom about open borders and potential urban threats.
At a Glance
- Immigration linked to complex terrorism threats.
- Predominance of “homegrown” legal immigrants in terrorist acts.
- Concerns over border policies leading to increased security threats.
- Significant watchlist stops at U.S.-Mexico border from FY2021 to FY2024.
Studying Immigration and Terrorism Link
Immigration and terrorism have a complex relationship often oversimplified in public discourse. Most terrorist acts in the U.S. are committed by “homegrown” legal immigrants or U.S. citizens, not illegal immigrants. White supremacist terrorists have caused more American deaths than jihadists since 9/11, posing a significant threat to minority communities and the federal government. Current terrorist threats often emerge from lone-actor white supremacists radicalized online rather than from jihadist operatives crossing the southern border.
“The reality is that [President Joe Biden’s] open border is the gravest terrorist threat to the homeland in years,” said Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR).
Assessing Current Policies’ Impact
The Biden-Harris administration’s border policies have been criticized for leaving the U.S. vulnerable to security threats. Border encounters have surpassed 10.1 million under the Biden administration, with over 8.2 million along the Southwest border. From FY2021 to FY2024, 382 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a stark increase from the 11 stopped from FY2017 to FY2020. Concerns continue about foreign networks exploiting smuggling networks for infiltration.
“I was told I could not release any information on this increase in [Special Interest Aliens] or mention any of the arrests. The administration was trying to convince the public that there was no threat at the border,” said Aaron Heitke, former chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector
City Spotlight: Chicago’s Security Challenges
Chicago’s recent incidents raise alarms about potential threats from open border policies. In October, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, an illegal immigrant from Mauritania, crossed from Tijuana to San Diego and was released. On October 26, Abdallahi reportedly shot an Orthodox Jewish man in Chicago, targeting Jewish sites due to jihadist ideology. The attack underscores potential vulnerabilities in border and national security strategies, demanding thorough examination and policy reassessment.
“This was not anything but a planned attack…an attempted assassination of these people,” Assistant State’s Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers stated.
Sources:
- https://www.cfr.org/blog/southern-border-poses-terrorism-risks-homegrown-threats-still-loom-larger
- https://homeland.house.gov/2024/09/19/biden-harris-administration-has-intentionally-left-us-vulnerable-pfluger-higgins-deliver-opening-statements-in-hearing-on-terror-threats-from-the-border/
- https://www.heritage.org/border-security/commentary/bidens-open-border-open-invitation-terrorist-attacks
- https://thefederalist.com/2024/12/02/without-a-reckoning-the-first-u-s-terror-attack-caused-by-open-borders-wont-be-the-last/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=without-a-reckoning-the-first-u-s-terror-attack-caused-by-open-borders-wont-be-the-last
