Joe Biden and the Radical Left have avoided addressing the border crisis as much as possible. But now, they have done something even worse than addressing it.
And Joe Biden has refused to release critical immigration information that could help protect America.
The Biden administration has refused to disclose data concerning the nationalities of illegal immigrants on terrorist watchlists who have been apprehended by Border Patrol agents in recent years.
This refusal comes despite a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Fox News filed over six months ago.
Bill Melugin, a reporter for Fox News, revealed on Thursday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had denied his FOIA request, citing privacy and law enforcement sensitivity exemptions.
In a letter to Melugin, CBP stated, “The privacy interests of the individuals in the records you have requested outweigh any minimal public interest in disclosure of the information. Any private interest you may have in that information does not factor into the aforementioned balancing test.”
Melugin, who has been diligently covering the border crisis, expressed his dissatisfaction on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “I did not ask for any names, IDs, addresses, anything that would breach privacy, nor did I ask for any law enforcement sensitive information. I simply requested only the nationalities of people arrested on the list, so the public can have an understanding of where in the world they are coming from,” he wrote.
NEW: 6+ months ago, I filed a FOIA request w/ CBP seeking the nationalities of people on the terror watchlist arrested by Border Patrol in recent years. CBP now says they will not turn over that data, citing privacy & law enforcement sensitivity exemptions, telling me:
“The… pic.twitter.com/iMBbiTnmn1
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 16, 2024
The CBP response acknowledged that Melugin had only sought information about the nationalities of those on the terror watch list. However, the agency still invoked exemptions irrelevant to the request, such as dates of birth, medical records, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, and other personal information that was not requested.
Melugin announced his intention to appeal the CBP’s decision, highlighting the ongoing concerns about the transparency of the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis.
Congressional Republicans have repeatedly warned about the potential for terrorists to enter the United States through the unsecured southern border, a fear exacerbated by the administration’s lack of disclosure.
The Biden administration’s stance on border security has been a point of contention since taking office.
The current policies have led to a surge in illegal crossings, thereby compromising national security. The refusal to provide information about the origins of individuals on terrorist watchlists only fuels these concerns.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been vocal about the risks associated with the administration’s border policies. “The American people deserve to know who is crossing our borders, especially when it involves individuals on terrorist watchlists. The Biden administration’s lack of transparency is unacceptable and dangerous,” Cruz stated.
Similarly, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) emphasized the need for accountability and transparency. “We need to hold this administration accountable for its failures at the border. The refusal to provide crucial information about the nationalities of those on terrorist watchlists raises serious questions about what they are trying to hide,” Jordan said.
According to recent data, Border Patrol agents have encountered an increasing number of individuals on terrorist watchlists.
However, without clear information on their nationalities, it is challenging to assess the full extent of the threat.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has defended the administration’s approach, stating that they are committed to ensuring national security while also addressing humanitarian concerns.
However, the policies in place are insufficient to protect the American people from potential threats.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
