An internal memo from the San Diego Field Office Intelligence Division of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), dated October 20, has raised concerns about potential infiltration of the southern border by members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah.
The Daily Caller News Foundation exclusively obtained this memo, which suggests that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas could lead to encounters with individuals linked to terrorism attempting to cross the border.
The memo states, San Diego Field Office Intelligence Unit assesses that individuals inspired by, or reacting to the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the Southwest border. It further warns that foreign fighters, driven by ideology or as mercenaries, might try to obscure their travel to or from the US and Middle Eastern countries through Mexico. The memo also identifies the emblems of Hamas, PIJ, and Hezbollah.
These warnings come at a time when the southern border is witnessing a record number of illegal immigration attempts. The Border Patrol has reported a significant increase in encounters with individuals whose names are on the terror watchlist. The number of such encounters at the southern and northern borders has risen to 172 in the fiscal year 2023, up from 98 in the previous fiscal year.
The memo advises federal border authorities to be vigilant for signs such as military-age males, military gear, lone travelers, and connections to the Middle East. It also suggests several "questions of interest" related to individuals' personal or familial associations with "Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)" or other similar groups.
The CBP has yet to respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation's request for comment. The memo underscores the potential security risks posed by the current immigration crisis at the southern border, highlighting the need for robust border security measures to safeguard national security.
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