- The intelligence chief’s revelation came during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the biggest global threats facing the United States today
- Wray replied “I do” when asked by Sen. Cornyn if he is concerned about potential terrorists coming across the southern border to do harm
- According to the latest annual report released Monday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the United States ‘faces a fragile world order’
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FBI Director Chris Wray is concerned that illegal migrants coming across the southern border could potentially launch another 9/11 terrorist attack on American soil.
The intelligence chief’s revelation came during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the biggest global threats facing the United States today.
The hearing was interrupted several times by pro-Palestinian protesters who shouted ‘ceasefire now!’ during remarks from the country’s top spy chiefs.
According to the latest annual report issued Monday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence The US ‘faces a fragile world order’ due to ‘accelerating strategic competition with major authoritarian powers’ working to undermine order.
That includes Russia’s growing desire for an arsenal of nuclear space weapons and China and Iran’s efforts to interfere in the upcoming 2024 election through TikTok and other malign influence operations.
One of the biggest concerns is the ongoing migrant crisis at the porous southern border, which has seen over 7.2 million people enter since President Biden took office.
Top Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, questioned Wray about the issue of the southern border being used by opponents of the United States, and especially terrorists.
7.2 million people have entered the United States through the southern border since President Biden took office
Wray replied “I do” when Cornyn was asked if he was concerned about potential terrorists coming across the southern border doing harm to Americans similar to the 9/11 terrorist attacks
When Cornyn was pressed on whether terrorists could be among the more than 1.8 million “fugitives” who have evaded capture by border officials, Wray said it is possible.
He quoted former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as saying “we don’t know what we don’t know.”
“And I think there are a lot of ways that the national security implications of the problems at the border are better reflected in some ways more by what we don’t know about the people who snuck in, provided false documents, or otherwise got in. when there wasn’t enough information about the time they came in to connect the dots,’ Wray said.
“It’s almost more significant in our opinion,” he continued, “because for the most part these people are stopped detained and processed.”
The Texas senator brought up the fact that there were only 26 co-conspirators in the 9/11 attacks that killed over 3,000 people.
‘I am concerned that among the people coming across the border and evading law enforcement, there are some people among them who want to do us harm. Do you share that concern?’ Cornyn asked.
Wray replied “I do.”
Another top issue for the FBI director is the report from last summer that revealed that individuals from Uzbekistan were smuggled by an ISIS terrorist into the United States after being screened by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As a result, the FBI became aware of the ISIS terrorist cell that was using human trafficking to infiltrate the United States
“So it’s a threat stream that we’re very concerned about,” Wray confirmed Monday.
“We are very actively investigating the cooperation with DHS on both individuals whose travel was facilitated, but also members of the facilitation network in other ways overseas.”
He said he would go into more detail with senators during the closed classified session.
‘I am concerned that among the people coming across the border and evading law enforcement, there are some people among them who want to do us harm. Do you share that concern?’ Cornyn asked
The FBI is aware of the ISIS terror cell that used human trafficking to infiltrate the United States
Another main concern for the FBI director is the report from the summer that revealed that individuals from Uzbekistan were smuggled by an ISIS terrorist into the United States after being screened by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Other points outlined in the annual threat assessment report included the risk of adversaries of the United States getting their hands on nuclear weapons.
“Moscow will rely more on nuclear and counterspace capabilities for strategic deterrence as it works to rebuild its land force,” the report said.
That line is significant because of reports last month that Putin wants to put nuclear weapons in space, according to US intelligence agencies.