Ernst Continues to Demand Answers From Biden Administration on Potential Terrorists Entering U.S. Through Open Borders

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is continuing her relentless efforts to secure the Southern border and prevent the flow of terrorists, and others who may be a national security risk, from entering our country. In a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, Ernst is urging action by the department after reports showed an increase in terrorist apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent months.

Ernst writes to Secretary Mayorkas: “Recent reports have shown an increase of terrorist apprehensions in recent months. This concern is compounded by the understaffing of border patrol agents, the lack of coordination between federal agencies, and the administration’s continued and further incentivization of illegal immigration. It is simple statistics. The higher the number of illegal immigrants, the higher the likelihood of a terrorist slipping through the cracks. DHS’ current trajectory is putting all Americans at risk and must be addressed immediately.”

She continues: “Our national security is paramount. DHS is only making its job harder by continuing to fuel illegal immigration, putting a further strain on our CBP agents, and making it more difficult to catch terrorists due to the sheer volume of illegal immigrants crossing our borders. The more illegal immigrations, the more difficult it is to apprehend those who want to cause harm to Americans.”

To read the full letter, click here.

Last week, Ernst joined her colleagues in pressing Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for answers about their Departments’ determination to make individuals who have provided “insignificant material support” or “limited material support” to terrorist organizations eligible for immigration to the United States.

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