151 on FBI’s Terror Watch List Crossed Southern Border in 2023, an All Time High, as Chicago Faces a Rising Migrant Crisis and Israeli-Hamas War Escalates

By Illinois Review

As the Israeli-Hamas war intensifies in the Middle East and the crisis on the southern border is raising legitimate national security concerns, U.S. Customs and Border Protection are reporting that an estimated 151 individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list have been caught trying to cross into the United States illegally this year alone – representing an all time high along the southern border as Chicago politicians scramble to address the migrant crisis now plaguing the city.

Less than two weeks ago, Hamas fighters coordinated a surprise terrorist attack on Israel that has killed more than 1,300 innocent civilians.

Late last week, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal called for a ‘Day of Anger’ around the world last Friday, leaving synagogues and law enforcement officials on high alert, including in the Chicagoland area where last Thursday, a temple in Skokie, just north of Chicago, received a bomb threat and had to be evacuated. Fortunately, no explosives were found after local police searched the temple, but the threats of terrorism remain a real threat following Hamas’ call to action last week.

On Saturday, a 6-year old boy was brutally murdered by his mother’s landlord in a scene that sent shockwaves across the country. The killer, who also stabbed the mother, is being charged with a hate crime. The Will County Sheriff’s Office said the crimes were committed because they were Muslim. The funeral for the little boy was held on Monday at a mosque in Bridgeview. The mother, who is still hospitalized and was unable to attend her son’s funeral – only adding to her unimaginable grief, is expected to recover from her injuries.

Since the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7th, Republican lawmakers in Washington have sounded the alarm that President Biden’s open border policy is leaving the U.S. vulnerable to another attack – this time on U.S. soil. Some lawmakers are even alleging the possibility of Hamas terrorists and other cells entering the U.S. through the wide open southern border.

This year alone, 151 people on the FBI’s terrorist watch list have crossed into the U.S. from the southern border – representing a dramatic increase since 2021, where only 15 were apprehended.

National security experts on both sides of the aisle acknowledge the safety concerns with so many crossing into the country illegally.

In response, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a statement last week:

“While we do not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States at this time stemming from the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, DHS is closely monitoring unfolding events and will continue to engage in information sharing with our intelligence and law enforcement partners at home and abroad.”

In Chicago, streams of buses carrying illegals are dropping people off all over the city day and night, straining resources and forcing the city and state to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to address the surge.

It’s estimated that over 17,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago in the last year, costing more than $400 million – with 25 buses arriving each day dropping off an average of 1,250 migrants around the city.

A few weeks ago, Gov JB Pritzker wrote a letter to President Biden asking for help, including federal aid, as the migrant crisis spirals out of control, writing,

“Unfortunately, the welcome and aid Illinois has been providing to these asylum seekers has not been matched with support by the federal government…Most critically, the federal government’s lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois.”

A delegation from Illinois, including representatives from the Chicago Mayor’s office are in El Paso meeting with local, state and federal officials to get a firsthand look at the crisis on the southern border and how best to coordinate efforts as the city struggles to contain both a humanitarian and national security crisis that’s impacting residents across the city and state.