According to data provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there has been a troubling surge in the number of migrants matching the anti-terror watchlist, raising concerns about national security.

 

During fiscal year 2023, a total of 154 arrests were made of non-citizens listed in the watchlist, with 151 of them apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

Officials at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have emphasized that every individual arriving at the San Diego border sector undergoes a rigorous verification process through various databases.

 

The Department of Homeland Security has noted that the "record encounter of migrants arriving from a growing number of countries has complicated border and immigration security." This has triggered concerns about the increasing number of migrants that could pose a threat to national security.

 

It is important to highlight that the available data on migrants in the anti-terror watchlists does not provide information about their identities, connections, or places of origin.

 

As of now, U.S. government agencies have not publicly indicated that any individuals affiliated with Hamas have been apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. Nevertheless, these concerns regarding national security continue to be closely monitored. The data is reported by CBS 8 through their website.