Washington, D.C. (September 18, 2023) - Todd Bensman, Senior National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement at a hearing titled "Terrorist Entry Through the Southwest Border." Bensman’s testimony shed light on the growing national security risks associated with the unprecedented mass migration crisis at the United States’ southern border.
 
In his opening remarks, Bensman emphasized that the threat of terrorist entry over the border has greatly elevated due to the mass migration crisis. He outlined critical issues that have arisen as a result of the ongoing border crisis, including the breakdown of vital counterterrorism programs and the release of individuals on the terrorist watchlist.
 
Bensman highlighted the counterterrorism programs developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) post-9/11 to prevent terrorist infiltration into the U.S., emphasizing that the 9/11 Commission had explicitly warned about this threat. These programs, established in 2004, have successfully thwarted numerous border crossers for two decades.
 
But he pointed out that “The ongoing border crisis has rendered those counterterrorism programs unviable.”
 
Bensman’s testimony also drew attention to instances where individuals with known ties to terrorist organization, including Al Qaeda, ISIS, and FARC, have exploited the porous border to enter the country. He warned that the situation is reminiscent of pre-9/11 vulnerabilities that the 9/11 Commission explicitly warned about.
 
Bensman’s testimony underscores the urgent need for immediate action to address the heightened national security threats resulting from the ongoing mass migration crisis along the border.