FBI Director Christopher Wray recently raised concerns about known or suspected terrorists using fake identification to enter the United States through the southern border. Wray made these remarks during a hearing with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, alongside other leaders from the U.S. intelligence community.
The hearing focused on the increasing threats posed by foreign entities such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as the potential for bad actors to infiltrate the nation through the U.S.-Mexico border. Mississippi Rep. Trent Kelly, a Republican member of the committee, questioned Wray about the FBI's ability to track and apprehend known or suspected terrorists at the border.
Wray explained that while there is close coordination between the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security when apprehending known or suspected terrorists, the bigger concern is individuals using fake identification to enter the country undetected. Wray also noted an increase in the number of known or suspected terrorists attempting to cross the southern border in recent years.
During a separate hearing with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Wray reiterated his concerns about individuals illegally entering the U.S. via the southern border and the potential terrorism implications associated with this activity. Wray highlighted the elevated threat level from various sources, including homegrown violent extremists, domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and state-sponsored terrorist organizations.
Overall, Wray's warnings about terrorist infiltration through the southern border underscore the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. intelligence community in safeguarding national security. As these concerns continue to evolve, it is crucial for authorities to remain vigilant and address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by terrorist entities.