An immigrant from Afghanistan on the FBI’s terror watch list was caught crossing the border in California, an official said.
San Diego County official Jim Desmond said in a statement the migrant, who has not yet been named, was taken into custody by federal law enforcement agents near the California coast.
He said the arrest “should serve as a stark reminder to President [Joe] Biden and the Federal Government on the critical need for maintaining a strong border.”
“The open border policy has allowed fentanyl to pour into our country, asylum seekers to be human trafficked, and terrorists to attempt entry into our country,” Desmond said.
He added the federal government should focus on developing a secure and efficient immigration system that prioritizes thorough screening and background checks while providing a streamlined and fair process for those seeking lawful entry.
Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), whose district encompasses a large portion of the state’s border with Mexico, meanwhile confirmed the incident on Monday.
He said in a tweet: “I can confirm that a wanted terrorist crossed our open border in the San Diego region just days ago — even if the Biden Administration won’t.”
Last year, the number of migrants from Afghanistan crossing the US-Mexico border soared. The journey to this point however, is a perilous trek across 11 countries in Latin America that starts in Brazil.
Hundreds of people risk their lives each month to get to the US border on a human smuggling route notorious for kidnapping, robbery and assault.
Reuters reported earlier this year that US border agents apprehended 2,132 migrants from Afghanistan last year – a close to 30-fold increase over the previous year – with nearly half arriving in November and December.
