In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 17 encounters with individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list between ports of entry at the southern border, raising the total for FY 24 to 30 since October.

This follows a record 169 such encounters in FY 23, surpassing the combined total of the previous six years and notably higher than the 98 in FY 22.

These figures highlight a disturbing trend as encounters at the ports are even higher, with 49 at northern and southern borders this fiscal year, following 564 last year.

The Terrorist Screening Dataset, the official name for the watch list, includes known or suspected terrorists and their affiliates.

While CBP describes these encounters as “very uncommon,” the growing numbers between ports are alarming, especially as individuals with dangerous backgrounds might integrate with migrant groups or attempt to evade Border Patrol as “gotaways.”

The concern escalated after the Hamas terror attack on Israel, prompting lawmakers to worry about terrorist fighters crossing into the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security’s October threat assessment acknowledged the increased encounters with individuals on the watch list and cautioned that terrorists and criminal actors might exploit the heightened flow and complex security environment to enter the U.S.

The report underlined that individuals with terrorism connections are keen on using established routes and permissive environments for U.S. access.

These incidents are part of a broader migration issue, with over 242,000 migrants encountered at the southern border in November alone, marking a record month.

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Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed by the surge, particularly in areas like Lukeville, Arizona, and Eagle Pass, Texas.

A single day in December saw a record 12,600 encounters, with December’s numbers poised to surpass November’s, as daily encounters often exceed 10,000.

Amid this influx, the Border Patrol reportedly released over 386,000 illegal immigrants into the U.S. with notices to appear, not including those released by other agencies.

This situation occurs as border security and asylum policies are debated in Washington, with lawmakers discussing the White House’s supplemental funding request, including $14 billion for border security.

Republicans are pushing for stricter asylum limits and restrictions on humanitarian parole.

While there’s some optimism for an agreement, none is expected before January.

In this context, the increase in terror watchlist encounters at the southern border underscores a significant national security risk.

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The Biden administration and DHS Secretary Mayorkas face criticism for what some view as a dereliction of duty regarding border security.

The open border policy under Biden is increasingly perceived as not just a migration issue but a potential catastrophe threatening national security.