US Officials Issue Warning on Potential Hamas and Hezbollah Infiltration via Southern Border

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) memo warns of the potential risk of foreign terrorist fighters associated with Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups attempting to enter the United States through the southern border. The memo highlights indicators such as military-age males, possession of military gear, single travelers, an undetermined return plan, and an association with the Middle East region. Concerns about a terrorist threat at the border have been heightened due to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Border Patrol agents have encountered a record number of individuals on the terror watch list at the southern border, surpassing the numbers from the past six fiscal years combined. The Department of Homeland Security's threat assessment warns that terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the increased flow and complex security environment to enter the US. Republicans argue that the open Southwest border poses a significant national security risk.