The FBI has announced that it has nearly doubled its domestic terrorist caseload since spring 2021, from approximately 1,000 to around 2,700 investigations.
It has also increased the number of personnel dedicated to domestic terrorism by more than twice, fuelled by the massive caseload from the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and the growing threat of extremists harbouring anti-government grievances.
Wray testified at a hearing on “Worldwide Threats” before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. This hearing was held following the 20th anniversary the September 11 attacks.
National security officials expressed deep concern over the possibility of al Qaeda being reconstituted in Afghanistan. They also raised concerns about ISIS-K, an offshoot group responsible for last month’s attack on Kabul that killed 13 U.S. military personnel and more than 170 Afghans.
The FBI director expressed concern that domestic actors, including Afghan refugees, could be radicalized further by foreign terrorists following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.
Wray stated to the Senate panel that “we’re putting an emphasis on community outreach as the evacuationes settle here in America.”
Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, stated that more than 60.000 people from Afghanistan have been brought to the U.S. so far. This includes 7% of Americans, 6% of lawful permanent residents, and 3% who are Afghans who received special immigrant visas. Rest of the remaining are vulnerable Afghans who are applying for special immigration visas.
Mayorkas stated that he had not seen many people with derogatory information about those who are eligible for admission to the United States, but he didn’t give a number. Mayorkas assured that any Afghan evacuees raised red flags would be removed by the federal government and relocated to another country.
Christine Abizaid, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), testified that terror threats to the homeland are “less acute” than they were two decades ago. However, she said that evolving threats to Afghanistan make the center’s top priority as terrorist groups try to take over power in the country.
Abizaid stated that the primary threat to the homeland is from those who are inspired to violence by foreign terrorist groups, domestic grievances and ideologies, or both. NCTC is currently assessing how fast terrorist groups in Afghanistan could be able to launch attacks against the U.S. homeland.
Wray informed Ohio Senator Rob Portman (the senior Republican on this committee) that he was “certainly concerned about Sirajuddin Haiqani. He is both the acting interior minister of Afghanistan and heads the counterterrorism program.
Wray stated, “We are worried about the future.”
Wray noted also that 62 U.S. law enforcement officers were “feloniously murdered on the job in 2021”. This equates to one officer being killed in his country every five days and is already greater than the number of officers who died in 2020.
After thousands of migrants from Haiti poured in to the southern border, officials at DHS asked questions. This overwhelmed U.S border officers and led them to set up a temporary migrant processing camp under an international bridge.
Secretary pointed out a massive deployment of hundreds border patrol officers and repatriation flight to Haiti. This has reduced numbers from 15,000 to less that 10,000. Mayorkas promised that the encampment would be removed within 10 days. This was a statement he called “unprecedented” as well as a “human tragedy.”
“Do you accept responsibility for the Del Rio crisis?” Missouri GOP Senator Josh Hawley asked the secretary multiple times. “Yes or no?”
Mayorkas replied, “It is my responsibility address the human tragedy at Del Rio,” noting that human traffickers had given migrants misinformation about United States immigration policies.
Mayorkas told lawmakers that footage showing Border Patrol agents riding on horseback dispersing Haitian migrants first appeared Monday. Mayorkas stated that he was shocked to see the images.
The secretary stated that DHS had begun an internal investigation into the behavior and has designated personnel from the office for professional responsibility to be on-site 24/7 in Del Rio.
Mayorkas stated, “We don’t tolerate any mistreatment of a migrant.” “Period.”
