Sen. Josh Hawley Grills DHS Secretary Over Alarming Surge In 'Special Interest Aliens' Amid Terror Threat Post-Hamas Attack

This comes in the wake of the recent attack on Israel by Hamas, which has sparked fears of a potential terrorist threat.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas, Senator Hawley expressed his alarm over the increase in potential terrorist-linked illegal aliens being encountered at the southern border.

He wrote, "This development follows the barbaric attack perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on innocent American and Israeli civilians. It is imperative that you address this issue immediately to ensure the safety of American citizens, especially Jewish Americans, who are facing increased threats to their physical safety following the Hamas attack."

 WATCH: NICOLE WALLACE AND THE END OF DEMOCRACY

Senator Hawley pointed out the record number of apprehensions of individuals on the terror watch list, with 151 people encountered at the southern border between ports of entry in FY23. This figure is higher than the total for the previous six years combined. He also drew attention to recent reports about the number of "special interest aliens."

 YIKES! IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE LOSING HER 'GRIP' IN POWER STRUGGLE?

October 19, 2023

Last week, Fox News reported that thousands of "special interest aliens" from various countries, including those in the Middle East, have been arrested by Border Patrol agents while attempting to cross the U.S.' southern border illegally over the past two years. The term "special interest aliens" refers to individuals from countries identified by the U.S. government as having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose a national security threat to the U.S.

 EIGHT U.S. NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS TAKE ON AI GIANTS IN BRAZEN LAWSUIT

Data from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) between October 2021 and October 2023 shows that agents encountered 6,386 nationals from Afghanistan, 3,153 from Egypt, 659 from Iran, and 538 from Syria during this period. Other encounters included 13,624 from Uzbekistan, 30,830 from Turkey, 1,613 from Pakistan, 164 from Lebanon, 185 from Jordan, 139 from Yemen, 123 from Iraq, and 15,594 from Mauritania. However, the data does not provide information on how many of these migrants were removed or who were released into the U.S. with a court date.

 WATCH: FETTERMAN CONFRONTED BY A PRO-HAMAS ACTIVIST

In the past two weeks, agents have also encountered dozens of migrants from Iran, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This has led to concerns among conservatives that individuals with ties to terror groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, could be attempting to enter the U.S.

 TESLA IN TURMOIL: MUSK OUSTS TOP EXECS AND PREPARES FOR MASSIVE LAYOFFS, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

The DHS has acknowledged the potential risk, with its threat assessment warning that terrorists and criminals "may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States." The assessment also stated that "Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States."

 THE HEARTWARMING REASON WHY THESE WAR VETERANS WERE MOVED TO TEARS AT SAN DIEGO AIRPORT...

In his letter, Senator Hawley emphasized, "Illegal aliens with potential ties to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah have no place in the United States. In the wake of Hamas’s attack on Israel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is already alerting Americans about an elevated number of violent threats. It is therefore critical that you abandon your radical open border policies, and instead, take immediate action to secure the border. As Secretary, your number one priority should be protecting American citizens against potential terrorists entering our country."

 SOURCES SAY KAMALA HARRIS'S SECRET SERVICE OFFICER WHO ATTACKED A COLLEAGUE WAS 'BATSH*T CRAZY' FROM THE START

Senator Hawley is seeking information on the number of special interest aliens released into the U.S. in the last two years, any steps the DHS has taken to increase security at the border since the attack on Israel, and coordination with the FBI to monitor organizations with ties to Hamas within the U.S.

 DESPERATE TIMES: INSIDER REVEALS KING CHARLES HAS 'LOST ALL TRUST' IN PRINCE HARRY

Last week, the DHS told Fox News Digital that it does "not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States at this time stemming from the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel." However, the department is "closely monitoring unfolding events and will continue to engage in information sharing with our intelligence and law enforcement partners at home and abroad."

 PUMP AND DUMP: VIRAL "BOCA BASH" VIDEO SPARKS MAJOR INVESTIGATION

Senator Hawley is among several Republicans who have voiced immigration-related concerns following the attack on Israel. A number of Republicans, including presidential candidates, have stated that the U.S. should not accept any refugees from Gaza who may have been displaced by the conflict.