Concerns Over Security at the Border
Joe Kent, who once directed the National Counterterrorism Center under the Trump administration, has raised alarming concerns regarding the consequences of the border policies enacted during President Biden’s term.
During a recent Homeland Security Committee hearing, Kent testified that the Biden administration has admitted numerous foreign nationals suspected of having ties to terrorism.
“Despite the strides made during the Trump presidency, the threat from various terrorist groups is still significantly high,” Kent remarked in his opening remarks to lawmakers.
He elaborated that the nation now faces ongoing dangers from individuals who gained entry during the previous administration’s policies.
“Perhaps the most pressing issue is that we simply don’t know who has entered our country over the past four years since the border was liberalized,” Kent shared. “What we’ve uncovered is quite alarming.”
He mentioned recent federal advisories about the heightened potential for terrorist activities, specifically emphasizing threats from ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Kent stated that the National Counterterrorism Center has pinpointed about 18,000 known or suspected terrorists who were permitted entry into the United States by the current administration.
He accused the previous administration of “facilitating” the entrance of individuals linked to jihadist organizations, referencing an Afghan national believed to have attacked a National Guardsman in Washington, D.C., which resulted in a tragic death.
“These Afghans were included in a group of over 100,000 brought in during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Contrary to reports, they were not adequately screened for entry into the country,” he noted.
Kent also explained that the NCTC collaborates with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to track individuals connected to terrorist factions. However, he clarified that the mentioned figure of 18,000 doesn’t account for those who entered illegally through the open border.
“It’s surprising, but that number is still not known,” he concluded. “We’re also attempting to understand who those individuals are.”
