Having an open border also means having a great target on our backs. Beyond the millions of invaders, a more determined group might decide to take a shot. And this CBP memo raises some serious questions. A Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) memo is warning staff of the risk that foreign terrorist fighters engaged in the Israel – Hamas conflict could soon be attempting to enter the United States via the besieged southern border.
In a Friday memo by the agency’s San Diego Field Office’s intelligence unit, obtained by Fox News, the agency warns 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”. The memo, first reported by the Daily Caller, doesn’t just warn about people on terror watchlists, rather it flags” military age males” in” military gear” with” weapons” and” insignia patches” of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad showing up on the border. That’s effectively beyond people on terror watchlists infiltrating the United States. That is evocative of a Hamas Oct 7 scenario. Then we’ve had plenty of warnings and alerts that didn’t pan out. Most of them definitely did not. As I wrote earlier unpleasant intelligence is significantly more valuable than protective intelligence. And most chatter turns out to be really noise. But it’s also profoundly disturbing that there is anything like this in the aether. It’s also an immediate warning to secure our border before it becomes reality. Whenever I’ve been asked about Israel’s border failure, I’ve wondered out loud what would happen if 100, 000 military enemy insurgents showed up at our southern border. It hasn’t happened and I don’t think it will quickly, but I don’t believe we’re mildly ready for that kind of scenario and caravans of migrants create the perfect cover for such an attack. The only reason something like this isn’t happening is not because we’re on alert or have enough deterrence, but because the enemy isn’t ready for anything on that scale. But Israel thought the same thing about Hamas. Better to be on alert than never to be when the worst happens.
A wide open border means that we are a target. A more motivated group could decide to take a chance. And this CBP memo raises serious questions.
The memo, which was first reported by Daily Caller, does not just warn of people on terror watcheslists infiltrating America. It also flags “military-age males” wearing “military clothing” with “weapons and insignia patches of Hamas Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad” showing up at the border. This is indicative of a Hamas scenario on Oct 7. We’ve seen plenty of warnings and alarms that haven’t worked. Most likely, they didn’t. As I said earlier, offensive intelligence is far more useful than defensive. Most chatter is just noise. But it’s still very troubling to think that this kind of thing exists in the ether. It’s an urgent warning that we need to secure our border now before it becomes a reality. Whenever I have been asked about Israel’s border failure, i’ve wondered aloud what would happen if 100 000 armed insurgents arrived at our southern border. It hasn’t happened yet and I don’t think it will anytime soon, but I do not believe we are prepared for this kind of scenario. Caravans of migrants provide the perfect cover for an attack of this scale. Israel felt the same way about Hamas. It’s better to be prepared than not be when the worst happens.
