House Minority Leader Seeks FBI, CIA Briefing after Two Men on Terror Watchlist Stopped at Border
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) would like to have an FBI and CIA classified briefing, as well as other lawmakers, following reports that two people on the on the FBI's terror watchlist were apprehended after crossing the southern border.
McCarthy said that this is part of an ongoing national security risk posed by the border crisis. A letter was sent by McCarthy to the leaders of the two agencies. "While I am grateful for the Border Patrol for doing all they can, I have great concerns for a number of bad actors that have escaped arrest and are living in the United States."
McCarthy requested the briefing on the arrests for himself, and asked that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) be included. McCarthy also felt that Vice President Harris would benefit from this briefing. "I hope she, along with the Congressional leaders, could benefit from this briefing.
Immigration officials announced this week that two Yemeni men were arrested about two months apart after crossing into the U.S. near the Calexico Port of Entry in California.
"While encounters of known and suspected terrorists at our borders are very uncommon, they underscore the importance of the critical work our agents carry out on a daily basis to vet all individuals encountered at our borders," a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told NBC.
Following a surge of migrants traveling northward to the United States in recent weeks, Republicans have been critical of the Biden administration's handling of the border situation, following a surge of migrants heading north to the United States.
McCarthy first warned of "terrorists crossing the border" in March, a claim swatted down by Democrats at the time.
"Weird as the Chairman of the subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and a border state member of Congress haven't heard anything about this," Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) tweeted last month. "Gonna ask for a briefing. Pretty sure he is either wrong or lying."