Sen. Cruz Raises Alarm on Terrorism Risks

On Wednesday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed serious concerns about potential terrorist attacks during an appearance on FNC’s “Hannity.” He indicated that the threat level is currently at its highest in decades.

Texas Republicans attribute this heightened risk to a more porous border during the previous administration, along with a government shutdown that impacted the Department of Homeland Security.

“As we sit here tonight, the threat of terrorist attacks is significant,” Cruz stated. He pointed to two main factors: the open border policy under President Biden, which reportedly saw around 12 million people enter the country, and two recent attacks. One incident involved a shooter in Austin, Texas, who opened fire in a bar while wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with “Property of Allah” and an Iranian flag, resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries. Just a few days later, two ISIS affiliates from Pennsylvania attempted to detonate homemade bombs in New York, although their efforts were unsuccessful.

“These individuals informed the Justice Department that their intentions were to inflict greater harm than that seen during the Boston Marathon attacks,” Cruz added. With extremist clerics in the Middle East issuing calls for violence against Americans, he expressed that the risks are ongoing. He criticized Democrats, claiming that aside from John Fetterman, they have repeatedly voted to hinder funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which he argues is crucial for preventing terrorist acts, especially amidst rising threats.