Posted on 03/02/2010 6:58:24 AM PST by IbJensen
(CNSNews.com) – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told senators it is a national security concern that people from countries with ties to terrorism could 'potentially' gain entry into the United States by crossing the country’s southern border.
But according to the Department of Homeland Security’s own reports, thousands of people from 14 “special interest” countries already have come into the United States illegally, including some across the U.S.-Mexico border. (The State Department designates some nations as "special interest" counties because of their links to terrorism.)
Napolitano testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday. Her remarks on “special interest” persons came after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) asked her about the ongoing violence in Mexico and the possibility of that violence spilling over into the United States.
“So, if the drug cartels succeeded, then it would be a matter of time before the violence would spill over onto our side of the border,” McCain said. “Not to mention the free, basically free, access they would have to bring drugs, as well as humans, into our country.”
“We haven’t seen spillover violence in that sense yet,” Napolitano said. “It is a risk. The ability to traffic in drugs cause their own damage to lives in the United States.
“Our ability to curtail that would be affected,” she said. “On the human trafficking side, it’s not solely illegal immigrants coming to work, but the ability of people from countries of special interest to immigrate into Central America and be ferried up to the border and over into the United States is also a concern.”
McCain responded: “Countries of special interest – people could come up through our southern border?”
“Potentially, yes,” Napolitano said.
The State Department lists four special interest countries as sponsors of terror – Cuba, Sudan, Syria and Iran. The other 10 countries of interest are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen.
A prototype of a tower for a virtual fence along the U.S.-Mexico border at a test facility in Playas, N.M. (AP Photo/U.S. Customs and Border Protection) According to the DHS’s 2008 Yearbook of Immigration Studies, from the Office of Immigration Statistics, a total of 791,568 people where detained by federal law enforcement agencies in fiscal year 2008 – 5,506 of those people were from those 14 “special interest” countries.
The report states that those individuals were detained “at the borders of the United States, in the interior of the country and at designated sites outside of the United States.” It does not disclose those details for each individual, however.
The specific numbers of individuals by country are labeled in the yearbook at the chapter, “Deportable Aliens Located by Region and Country of Nationality: Fiscal Year 2008.”
Afghanistan – 29 Algeria – 41 Cuba – 3,896 Iran – 98 Iraq – 118 Lebanon – 188 Liberia – 98 Libya – 11 Nigeria – 299 Pakistan – 494 Saudi Arabia – 71 Somalia – 66 Sudan – 46 Syria – 71 Yemen -- 78
In accordance with federal law, any individual arrested by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) are then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is responsible for detention and deportation.
Aside from the number of individuals and their country of origin, the DHS does not release any further information about the individuals, including whether they were found to have links with terrorist groups. CNSNews.com is seeking further information about illegal aliens in U.S. custody from 2007 to 2009 from the 14 countries of special interest, through the Freedom of Information Act.
According to an August 2009 report on checkpoints and border security by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 530 illegal aliens from countries of special interest were “encountered” at CBP checkpoints in fiscal year 2008.
The report states:
“Checkpoints also help screen for individuals who may have ties to terrorism. CBP reported that in fiscal year 2008, there were three individuals encountered by the Border Patrol at southwest border checkpoints who were identified as persons linked to terrorism.
“In addition, the Border Patrol reported that in fiscal year 2008 checkpoints encountered 530 aliens from special interest countries, which are countries the Department of State has determined to represent a potential terrorist threat to the United States.
“While people from these countries may not have any ties to illegal or terrorist activities, Border Patrol agents detain aliens from special interest countries if they are in the United States illegally and Border Patrol agents report these encounters to the local Sector Intelligence Agent, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Investigations, and the CBP National Targeting Center.
“For example, according to a Border Patrol official in the El Paso sector, a checkpoint stopped a vehicle and questioned its three Iranian occupants, determining that one of those occupants was in the United States illegally. The individual was detained and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further questioning.”
As reported earlier by CNSNews.com, the federal government, including DHS, have extensive information about the drug and human trafficking over the U.S. border with Mexico.
The entire U.S.-Mexico border is 1,954 miles long, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. While 697 of those miles are now under “effective control,” according to the Border Patrol, 1,257 miles are not under “effective control.”
Each year, the Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) produces “drug market analyses” for each of 32 regions of the country that the NDIC describes as “high intensity drug trafficking areas.” Five of these areas sit along the U.S.-Mexico border. These include the California border region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and South Texas.
The latest reports, released in March and April of 2009, use candid language in portraying the U.S.-Mexican frontier as wide open to drug smuggling and even vulnerable to penetration by potential terrorists.
The California-Mexico border, the NDIC said, was “easily breached” on both foot and in vehicles.
“The vast border area presents innumerable remote crossing points that traffickers exploit to smuggle illicit drugs, primarily marijuana, into the country from Mexico,” said the NDIC. “These areas are easily breached by traffickers on foot, in private vehicles, or in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as they smuggle drugs between POEs [ports of entry], particularly the mountainous areas in eastern San Diego County and the desert and sand dune areas in Imperial County.”
Arizona’s border was judged to be open not only to drug smugglers but also aliens with “extensive criminal records” and from “special interest countries,” which are defined as “countries that could export individuals who could bring harm to the United States through terrorism.”
“Some criminal organizations smuggle aliens and gang members into the United States,” said NDIC’s report on Arizona. “These particular individuals typically have extensive criminal records and pose a threat, not only to the Arizona HIDTA [High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area] region but also to communities throughout the United States. Alien smuggling organizations reportedly also smuggle aliens from countries other than Mexico, including special-interest countries.”
“Special-interest countries are those designated by the intelligence community as countries that could export individuals who could bring harm to the United States through terrorism,” said the NDIC report.
She speaks of the people getting into this country BUT she doesn't do anything about it. In fact she relaxes the laws on illegal entry into this country. We have more than 5000 people from special countries. We have millions I would classify as terrorists that come from our southern borders. With all the falsified papers and documents,you don't really know who these people are. They broke the laws getting in and they keep breaking laws while here. And on top of all that they collect social benefits that are really not entitled to them. Again falsified papers. AND McCAIN is or would be just as BAD! He wants to give them amnesty. Seems our enemies to this country today are right there in Washington!
Incompetano is a good fit with Obummer's other assorted criminals and imbeciles.
If they got in the country, it would be completely “unexpected”.
Nonsense.
The fact that the borders aren't militarized in a time of war is unreal.
She’s saying the system works?
DUH!!!
Also the issue that caused me to lose most all respect for W and Rove, their reckless pandering to Latinos while ignoring all the negatives, and undercutting any effort to make the southern border more secure until their seventh or eighth year in office.
Many politicians on both sides have been reckless and irresponsible on this issue in hopes of securing some political advantage.
We shouldn’t worry about foreign terrorists,
it’s those domestic right wingers (Christians, Patriots, ex-military guys, etc) that we REALLY need to watch.
excuse me but did she use the word terrorism? I thought they were man making disasterers.
yup.
Apparently she believes is she STATES that this is or could be a problem, then she has performed the job she has paid for.
“See this blowtorch? I am using it as a tool to burn your hands off.”
Uhhh..yeah, OK..! Good thing you let me know, cuz for a short time there I was concerned...
Things have transformed from, “Is Janet able to perform this job” to, “Is there any person WORSE for Janet’s job than Janet..?”
But we NEED open borders because there are all these jobs lying around that Americans just refuse to do.
illegal immigration, welfare state, massive taxation, foreign wars without end, socialized health care, war on drugs without end, war on poverty without end, government services
“Guns and butter” all seem to have big government as a common factor.
Indeed. As I'm ex-military, Christian, conservative, believe the federal government has long since sprinted past the boundaries of the 10th Amendment and against abortion I'm a bit surprised they haven't swooped down on me already.
“The fact that the borders aren’t militarized in a time of war is unreal. “
Oh it is quite real.
Thank you Jorge
Thank you McCain
Thank you Obama
One time a radio show host hired a Mariachi band and an elephant, and succeeded in crossing the border from Mexico into the US.
Janet is pretty amazing —first she worked for years, transforming Arizona into an infiltration/invasion expressway, all they while battling the one sheriff there who did understand his job.
THEN, ascending to her lofty new federal perch she coolly, detachedly informs us that the terrorists may already be here —and washes her hands of the matter
MUST BE FIRED. SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED A YEAR AGO.
I believe the progressive rule of thumb is, if it's muslims perpetrating an attack on Americans it's a man made disaster...if it's conservatives, Christians, veterans and the like who are being peaceful it is potential terrorists. It's all predicated upon who you might offend.
If the government were really serious about protecting Americans, it would realize it can’t stop every malicious act that someone may want to commit.
Then it would repeal every unconstitutional gun law on the books. (That would be every one of them. The second amendment says “shall not be infringed.”) Then they would recommend everyone go buy whatever weapons they could afford and be armed at all times.
The Japanese didn’t consider invading the US because they knew the civilian population was well armed.
It’s too bad that these days the biggest threat to our peace and prosperity is our federal government.
“It’s too bad that these days the biggest threat to our peace and prosperity is our federal government.”
By FAR the biggest threat!
““So, if the drug cartels succeeded, then it would be a matter of time before the violence would spill over onto our side of the border,” McCain said. “Not to mention the free, basically free, access they would have to bring drugs, as well as humans, into our country.””
PLEASE Arizona! Get rid of this clueless idiot! Phoenix is the #2 kidnapping capitol of the world, because of Mexico and because of fools like McCain.
Where was he YEARS ago when even Rumsfeld tried to warn us!
Pushing amnesty, that’s where!
(2005)
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/16/ldt.01.html
DOBBS: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is warning of the threat of terrorists entering this country through the same routes as those used by illegal aliens. Secretary Rumsfeld, traveling in South America, warned that enemies look for weaknesses and take advantage of them.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The risk is that some of these human-smuggling routes into our country from this hemisphere could be used just as easily for terrorists.
DOBBS: And three million illegal aliens are estimated to be entering this country this year.
Secretary Rumsfeld also said the United States has to be, as he put it, smarter and quicker in securing our borders. The federal government’s failure to secure those borders is leading individual states to take action. Arizona’s Proposition 200, which limits state benefits for illegals, passed overwhelmingly two weeks ago. Now at least half a dozen other states are considering similar measures.
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/search?q=rumsfeld
Is she behind the times or WHAT!? =.=
She seriously needs to buy, read, and comprehend Steve Emerson’s “American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us.”
Incompetano & McLettuce—living in an alternate universe. They have looked the other way thru the years while the invaders steadily made entry and they encouraged many other politicians to do the same, all for the purpose of gaining a sizeable voting bloc. Nearly one-third of illegals are in prison here in the US and most of these for violent crimes. Every politician, from mayors of sanctuary cities on up to the President (Klinton-Bush-Obama) have blood on their hands.
Potentially nothing. We have caught hundreds of arabs, pakis, Iranians and chicoms sneaking across. Meaning that many more have gotten through.
You got that right. Americans have ALL the info they need to know we are being put at risk by a govt that refuses to protect us. Read on.
============================================
July 21, 2006
Two Texans busted in bogus ID operation in NJ
NORTH BERGEN, NJ -- Pelcastre brothers, Angel and Jorge, Dallas, Texas, were a walking threat to US national security, expert document forgers who, for a few thousand dollars, could give anyone a new identity, authorities said. The Texas brothers turned a NJ hotel room into a business office and were readying a massive cache of fake Social Security cards for delivery to a local NJ identity broker.
The Texas brothers were a "one-stop shop" for a myriad of fake US documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, driver's licenses for any state in the US, passports and resident alien cards, said state police. Officers happened upon two cars bearing Texas plates in a NJ hotel parking lot. Authorities wouldn't identify the NJ hotel by name for fear it would spark retribution. The Drug Interdiction Task Force, regularly runs checks.
The Texas brothers were followed to a NJ office supply store nearby where they purchased computer supplies. Officers then followed the Texans to a NJ storage facility in Secaucus, NJ, where the Texans loaded several boxes into a car. One of them stood lookout. Authorities approached the Texas brothers when they returned to the NJ hotel and questioned them separately. The Texas brothers consented to a search.
Police recovered laminating sheets with built-in security features, pages of blank documents waiting for fake names and information, finished documents, computers and software to create the fake IDs. All told, the haul was worth about $500,000 on the street. Police also recovered $6,000 in cash, which was the first payment from a NJ fake document broker for a shipment of 500 Social Security cards.
=====================================================
REFERENCE Oct 25, 2009 American Patrol Report---Savage Zetas, descendants of the Aztecs, known for beheading and dismembering their enemies, are integrating their primitive savagery into the US.
In his groundbreaking book, Wakeup Call from Mexico, Wilson Beck describes how the dark side of Mexico stretches back to the days of the Aztecs when hundreds of thousands of people were sacrificed and eaten each year. He says today many young men in Mexico are enamored with the idea of being descendants of the Aztecs.
Now, according to the Houston Chronicle, the brutal savage Zetas, known for beheading and dismembering their enemies, are tightening their grip on an area bordering Southern Texas.
Critics say our CIA and State Department are well aware of the dark side of Mexico and regularly brief U.S. presidents on the reality south of the border. “It is unfortunate that Mexico got off to such a bad start,” said Glenn Spencer of the American Patrol Report,” but it is wrong to sacrifice the United States of America to correct problems south of the border.”
Spencer said while Mexicans are being besieged, which is nothing new for them, Americans are being betrayed by a government that refuses to protect them.
Despite this, President Bush and now President Obama have been secretly working to integrate the US and Mexico into a common political and economic unit.
============================================
THE LATEST MEXICAN SCAM Now the Mexican govt is coaching its citizens to pour into the US, whining about "persecution from drug wars." Some of these whiners are wealthy people, squatting on US soil, intent on draining the US treasury. The Mexican govt aids and abets its savage drug war to create new classes of "Political Asylum" refugees.
THE RIPOFF UP CLOSE The Mexican govt knows Social Security provides outrageous government financial aid to "refugees" claiming "persecution." These people never paid a dime into the SS system; yet, they can collect seven years straight...... and can get extended payments if they are politically well-connected. The SS checks can amount to $1000 a month, and more. The category was created for those coming from eastern Europe and other Soviet satellite countries circa WW II....and they're STILL collecting.......connivers draining the US Treasury.
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The only problem is.. .....how far the Mexican drug cartels have penetrated the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.. This has not been determined.. YET..
It's clear the US govt KNOWS about these activities but has not (or will not) do anything about them. The Obama admin is a willing dupe of Third World governemnts----dutifully reciting latino agit-prop. Obama's treacherous plan to award US citizenship to illegals is a con game. Illegals w/ amnesty are dual citizens who swear allegiance to their home countries. THEY INTEND TO RETURN THERE----AFTER THEY DRAIN THE US TREASURY.
We need to see Obama, Rahm, and DHS Janet's emails and cell phone records to determine when they get their orders from Mexico and other Third World governments.
===========================================
REFERENCE A 2009 poll of Mexicans showed Mexicans in America---including those born in the United States---are more loyal to Mexico than the US.
As long as the “system worked”, then I’m good.
Sen McCain and Incompetano should explain to taxpayers the public financing of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, and the Border Infrastructure Project implemented in collaboration with federal, state and local government agencies........that's OUR tax dollars.
FROM THE ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISSION WEB SITE http://www.azmc.org/
Welcome to the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) online news and information resource. The Arizona-Mexico Commission is Arizona's premiere cross-border organization.
We are a mission-driven non-profit organization chaired by Arizona's governor, Janet Napolitano. Our mission is to improve the economic well being and quality of life for residents of Arizona by promoting a strong, cooperative relationship with Mexico and Latin America through advocacy, trade, networking and information.
Looking for funding?
Look no further and check out AMC-ASU’s new funding database: Unlocking the gates to grant sponsorship in Arizona!
Visitwww.azgates.org to find funding and grant application resources online. The single information source on Arizona's Border Infrastructure Projects!
Visit www.azbip.org to find streamlined information on infrastructure projects in Arizona's border communities.
LINK State of Arizona Border Infrastructure Project http://www.bip.arizona.edu/
"The Border Infrastructure Project database is the single source of information on Arizona’s border infrastructure projects. It tracks each project’s progress along its approval, programming and funding paths and provides the information in a concise and timely way. I hope this is a valuable tool for you and that you will use it often." - Then-Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (now DHS Secy)
The University of Arizona Office of Economic and Policy Analysis developed the Border Infrastructure Project concept in partnership with the Arizona-Mexico Commission. It is being implemented in collaboration with federal, state and local government agencies. Border communities and stakeholders will be engaged in this project through outreach efforts.
=========================================== Nappy was governor of AZ & McJuan senator yet ignored the invasion, now they play innocent & expect us to believe them. The lid is going to blow off this pressure cooker before long, insurrection and anarchy & I mean blood in the streets and God knows how many dead.
GWBush made trips to Mexico, was friends with both Presidentes, they met at his TX ranch. He & Rove facilitated the invasion and fought any attempts to stop it, to the point of keeping Ramos & Campeon in prison until he was finally shamed into granting them a pardon when he left office.
Liz, don’t you think we should find it strange - that we cannot track illegals in our country - yet we know where every cow was bred, born, raised, and everything it ever ate?
And, we can send a robot to Mars, and operate it from earth - yet we can’t get a cell phone to operate from our kitchen to our living room?
What I am getting to, is that the ‘gubbmint’ seems intent on doing ONLY what they *choose* to do! Nothing more. Tell them about a little striped fish that might become extinct if they don’t shut down a resivoir or dam - but protect the citizens of this country? Ha!
BORDERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED (air tight) on SEPTEMBER 12, 2001. Period.
But thanks to our Governor (at that time) and John McLettuce, and (so sorry to say, our President) - our border was left wide open - for anyone to slip through - with drugs, ammunition and PLANS - with intent to do harm to the citizens and very soil we live on (and used to own.)
Ping to 27, 28, 29 and 30, m’FRiend!
Thank you, yorkie! BTTT
Interesting about the Zetas.
To put it simply, our southern neighbors are run by corrupt governments, their voters are cynical, and MS-13 should be classified as a terrorist organization.
“Obama’s treacherous plan to award US citizenship to illegals is a con game. Illegals w/ amnesty are dual citizens who swear allegiance to their home countries. THEY INTEND TO RETURN THERE——AFTER THEY DRAIN THE US TREASURY. “
EXACTLY !!
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