“Biden-Harris Administration Has Intentionally Left Us Vulnerable”: Pfluger, Higgins Deliver Opening Statements in Hearing on Terror Threats From the Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA) delivered the following opening statements in a joint hearing to examine terror threats to the homeland as a consequence of the historic Biden-Harris border crisis.

On Wednesday, the former chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector told the Committee that he was prevented from talking about the increase in these threats crossing the border. Chief Aaron Heitke testified, "I was told I could not release any information on this increase in [Special Interest Aliens] or mention any of the arrests. The administration was trying to convince the public that there was no threat at the border."

Watch the opening statements below and the full hearing live here.

Watch Chairman Pfluger's opening statement.

As prepared for delivery:

It is no secret our nation is in the midst of a dire crisis at our nation's borders. Over the last four years, a record number of migrants from across the globe have descended on our borders and have created security challenges our nation has never experienced.

Specifically, border encounters under the Biden administration has surpassed 10.1 million aliens encountered nationwide, with over 8.2 million encountered along the Southwest border. These are only the number of individuals encountered at one of our borders.

Experts estimate that nearly two million individuals have evaded arrest by CBP officials and are known to be "gotaways."

The most glaring statistic that alarms me the most is the 382 individuals whose names appear on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally between ports of entry from FY2021 to FY2024 year to date. This is compared to the 11 individuals apprehended from FY2017 - FY2020.

If we know that nearly two million individuals are considered "gotaways," how many of these individuals also appear on the terror watch list?

We are not only discussing and debating this issue here at home. In March, I led a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to north Africa and the Middle East. We heard from a variety of our foreign partners and entities within the United States government on this topic. One issue that alarmed all of us on this trip was the nature in which foreign terrorist networks are utilizing criminal smuggling networks to help facilitate their travel from the Middle East and Central Asia to the Western Hemisphere. These elaborate smuggling operations are utilizing both commercial and private means to coordinate this travel.

This smuggling network was also highlighted in Director Wray's testimony during the Senate Intelligence Committee's annual Worldwide Threats Assessment hearing. Specifically, he stated that "there is a particular network where some of the overseas facilitators of the smuggling network have ISIS ties that we're very concerned about, and that we've been spending an enormous amount of effort with our partners to investigate." His acknowledgment of this threat shows the gravity and seriousness of this threat, which is why we are here today.

Today's hearing will examine irregular migration trends and the travel patterns that have been utilized by individuals who appear on the terror watch list. Initially, we requested the Department of Homeland Security to participate in today's conversation, but our requests were rejected. For a department that was born out of the aftermath of 9/11, it is deeply disturbing that they will not come to discuss terror threats to the United States and how this administration's policies have created the threat environment every American is living under.

I do not know why DHS has refused to participate today and provide answers to the American people. However, my best guess is that the Biden-Harris administration is attempting to hide from the public and not take accountability for their policy failures.

I have full faith that the American people are smarter than this and accountability for this administration's failures will be upheld.

Thankfully, we have a distinguished panel today that can share their expertise and experiences in their respective roles. I know they will provide valuable testimony to help answer the questions that the Biden-Harris administration refuses to answer.

Watch Chairman Higgins' opening statement.

As prepared for delivery:

The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the rise in migration from regions outside the Western Hemisphere. We will assess the serious damage caused by the Biden-Harris open-border policies, which have a direct impact on the national security of the United States.

We will hear expert insights into the connection between individuals on the terrorist watchlist and special interest aliens migrating to the United States at record levels. We will examine the national security consequences, including increased threat exposure, at and within our borders stemming from these trends. Finally, we will discuss potential legislative and policy measures necessary to strengthen border security and address national security concerns, fulfilling the Committee's important oversight responsibilities and to remedy DHS's failures.

The Biden-Harris administration's self-inflicted border crisis has resulted in record-breaking illegal immigration, and as a result, the country is facing an unprecedented internal threat. A threat to the homeland from within the homeland. That is why we are here today.

By ending effective Trump era policies and programs that protected us, the Biden-Harris administration has intentionally left us vulnerable to potential attacks from terrorists and criminals who are freely moving around our communities.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, since fiscal year 2021, 382 aliens on the terrorist watchlist have been caught illegally crossing our Southwest border, and at least 99 illegal aliens on the watchlist were released into the United States by DHS between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.

And that's not all. According to media reports, the Department of Homeland Security has identified over 400 illegal aliens from Central Asian countries and elsewhere who crossed into the United States via an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network.

Eight individuals from Tajikistan were arrested on immigration charges in the United States following the discovery of potential ties to terrorism. These eight suspected terrorists were able to fool CBP and freely enter the United States without any issue. In fact, at least one of these individuals used the disgraceful CBP One app to enter the country.

Lately, it seems stories like these are almost a daily occurrence, yet the Biden-Harris administration continues to make it easy for unvetted illegal immigrants to cross our border, and live and work in the United States.

How many more bad actors or suspected terrorists are a part of the nearly two million known "gotaways" who are most likely living in your hometown. No one knows. And I pray we don't find out the hard way.

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