The Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning regarding an uptick in encounters with individuals on the U.S. terrorist watchlist at the border. In their recently released 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment report, the agency highlights that while the number of encounters with migrants has decreased since the peak in December, the rate of migrants seeking entry into the United States remains high, with a trajectory that could nearly match the total encounters of 2022.
The report reveals a concerning trend of increased encounters with individuals listed in the Terrorist Screening Data Set (TSDS), commonly known as the ‘watchlist.’ As of July, approximately 160 non-U.S. individuals on this watchlist have made attempts to enter the United States via the southern border this year, with most of them apprehended while trying to cross illegally between ports of entry.
This represents a rise from the approximately 100 encounters recorded in fiscal year 2022. It’s worth noting that inclusion on the terror watchlist can range from being known associates of watchlisted individuals to direct involvement in terrorist activities.
The DHS anticipates that the threat of violence from individuals radicalized within the United States will remain high over the next year, with a focus on lone offenders or small group attacks that may occur with little warning. Additionally, foreign terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and ISIS are actively working to rebuild their networks overseas, maintaining global support systems that could potentially target the homeland.
Despite the persistent threat of terrorism, the DHS emphasizes in its report that it expects illegal drugs originating in Mexico and circulating in the U.S. to continue posing a more significant danger, claiming more American lives than any other threat. Over the past year, traffickers based in the U.S. have become increasingly involved in the production and distribution of fentanyl, leading to even more deadly combinations of this already lethal drug.
Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, issued a statement alongside the release of the Homeland Threat Assessment report, emphasizing that it will serve as a valuable resource for various stakeholders, including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors. It will aid them in making informed decisions to address these complex security challenges.