In fiscal year 2023, border agents encountered 172 individuals on the FBI's terrorist watch list attempting to enter the United States.
On Wednesday, Republican Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas introduced legislation requiring that Congress receive regular reporting about individuals on the terrorist watch list who attempt to enter the country.
The proposed bill, "Where Are the Terrorists Now Act," would obligate federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services, to provide monthly reporting documenting the number of individuals who are in the terrorist screening database and were encountered at the southern border or other ports of entry.
The reporting would also include detailed information about the individuals, including where they attempted to enter the country, why they are in the database, any ties they may have to terrorist organizations, their countries of origin, previous criminal convictions, and how they traveled to the port of entry.
