He was on the Terror Watchlist: "Texas Arrested Him - Joe Biden Released Him" Gov. Abbott Says
Why did Feds release man who potentially posed a threat to National Security?
In September, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers assigned to the "Operation Lone Star" Border Security Mission apprehended 36 migrants near the Rio Grande Border with Mexico in Normandy, Texas. The DPS says 15 of those illegal immigrants (from Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, & South Africa) were arrested for criminal trespass on private property.
The South African was turned over to the Border Patrol who eventually released him.
Then - all hell apparently broke loose - as described by US Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens in a post on x.com:
"A multi-agency effort led to the arrest of a South African national and suspected terrorist in Brooklyn, NY. Initially detained in Texas for criminal trespassing and based on information available at the time, the individual was released. A further subsequent investigation revealed a positive match on the terrorist watchlist, prompting swift action by USBP agents and personnel at the National Targeting Center. Thanks to the coordination of multiple agencies, this potential threat was located, taken into custody, and is now pending removal. ." US Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens (December 17, 2024)
To say that Texas Governor Greg Abbott - who has secured 11 Billion dollars in state funds for Border Security - was displeased about what happened after his officers handed off a man to federal authorities who released him before learning he was on the "terror watchlist" - is an understatement.
Here is how Governor Abbott responded to the turn of events - with his own post to x.com :
Governor Abbott has been sounding the alarm about terror suspects illegally crossing the border for well over a year:
The Texas Department of Public Safety has reported the arrests of "Special Interest Immigrants" (which the federal government has also referred to as "Special Interest Aliens") suspected of illegally crossing into the state several times this year.
"A (Special Interest Alien) is a non-U.S. person who, based on an analysis of travel patterns, potentially poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests. Often such individuals or groups (have) travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism." -U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Some of the most recent of these arrests occurred last month when State Troopers encountered a group of 154 migrants from nine different countries near Eagle Pass. Among the group were six "Special Interest Migrants " from Afghanistan (who - like the South African man - were turned over to federal authorities).
On October 20, 2024, in Maverick County, the DPS says a trio of "Special Interest Immigrants from Iran & Guinea" were discovered among a larger group of migrants they encountered there.
The discovery of those Iranian "Special Interest Migrants" followed an encounter with seven "Special Interest Immigrants" from Iran and Angola reported by the DPS in that same county three days earlier.
The continuing discovery of Iranian "Special Interest Migrants" illegally crossing the border this month raises red flags because Iran is one of four countries designated by the U.S. as "State Sponsors of Terrorism."
The United States and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relationship since 1980 following the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran in late 1979.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressed concerns about the increasing reports of potential terrorists crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in its most recent "Homeland Threat Assessment":
"Individuals with potential terrorism connections continue to attempt to enter the Homeland. As of July, approximately 160 non-US persons in the TSDS attempted to enter the United States via the southern border this year." U.S. DHS "Homeland Threat Assessment 2024"
The discovery of so many Special Interest Aliens along the U.S. Border with Mexico prompted Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to sound the alarm about the situation in a letter they sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas a year ago:
"Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that thousands of “Special Interest Aliens” from countries including those in the Middle East have been arrested at the southern border just over the past twenty-four months." -Texas Senators Ted Cruz & John Cornyn (November 16, 2023)
The pair of Texas Senators were both blunt in their assessment of the dangers posed by the large numbers of Special Interest Aliens crossing the border - and of their demands of the Homeland Security Secretary:
"Your failure to secure the southern border undoubtedly makes our nation less safe. It is imperative that you reverse this reckless course and ramp up interior enforcement of federal immigration law." -Texas Senators Ted Cruz & John Cornyn (November 16, 2023)
Meanwhile - as demonstrated through the recent arrest reports (see above) from the Texas Department of Public Safety - "Special Interest Aliens" continue to illegally cross the Southern Border.
Is enough being done to secure the border with Mexico?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
