Sen. Ossoff raises concerns that Republican efforts to block bipartisan border measures in the Senate perpetuate risk
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, raised concerns with FBI Director Christopher Wray over the threat terrorism associated with unlawful entry through the southern border poses to U.S. national security.
In a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats today, Sen. Ossoff asked FBI Director Wray, “Do you share my view that the threat of terrorism associated with unlawful entry through the southern border poses a serious threat to U.S. national security?”
Director Wray agreed with Sen. Ossoff’s assessment, adding, “we are concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border.”
Sen. Ossoff also raised the bipartisan border security deal, which Republicans in the Senate blocked last month, that would have provided substantial resources to fight cartels and crack down on fentanyl trafficking, tightened asylum standards, and expedited screening and removal timelines for those who are trying to enter the country without a valid reason.
“The former President put out the word that he wanted the bill stopped for political reasons and the bill was stopped. In fact, not only was the bill stopped in the Senate, it was denied even a debate on the Senate floor. And this speaks to the corrosive impact of extreme partisanship and polarization in this country on our national security,” Sen. Ossoff said.
In January, Sen. Ossoff slammed former President Donald Trump for lobbying Republicans to sabotage bipartisan border security efforts.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning below:
SEN. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to our panel.
“Director Wray, I believe you noted this earlier, but do you share my view that the threat of terrorism associated with unlawful entry through the southern border poses a serious threat to U.S. national security?”
DIRECTOR WRAY: “Yes, I’ve testified repeatedly that we are concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “How would you assess the present level of threat and risk of a terrorist attack in the United States compared to past periods during your tenure?”
DIRECTOR WRAY: “Well, even before October 7, I would have told this Committee that we were at a heightened threat level from a terrorism perspective. In the sense that, it’s the first time I’ve seen in a long, long time, the threats from homegrown violent extremists — that is jihadist-inspired extremists — domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and state-sponsored terrorist organizations all being elevated at one time. Since October 7, though, that threat has gone to a whole other level. And so, this is a time I think, for much greater vigilance than has maybe been called upon of us before October 7.”
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SEN. OSSOFF: “Well, speaking of Congress, I think it’s worth noting that a serious, tough, bipartisan border security measure was put forward in the Congress, in fact, co-authored by a conservative Republican member of this Committee, which would have surged enforcement resources to the border, which would have provided substantial resources to fight cartels and to crack down on fentanyl trafficking, which would have tightened asylum standards and expedited adjudication and therefore removal timelines for those who are trying to enter the country without a valid reason to.
“Former President put out the word that he wanted the bill stopped for political reasons and the bill was stopped. In fact, not only was the bill stopped in the Senate, it was denied even a debate on the Senate floor. And this speaks to the corrosive impact of extreme partisanship and polarization in this country on our national security.
“So, I’d like to ask you, Director Haines, how do our adversaries view the impact of political extremism and polarization and partisanship on America’s strength and stability? We’re talking about worldwide threats — those threats can exploit our own frailties here at home.”
DIRECTOR HAINES: “I think the best way I can answer that question is to point to the fact that we’ve seen that both Russia and China, for example, have taken the opportunity to highlight where there’s political dysfunction or other issues that they see in the context of our governance, and use it as part of their information operations globally, both to sort of highlight, for example, to their own populations, you know, democracy is quite challenging, and would you really want this at home kind of thing, and also to demonstrate to our allies and partners that we can’t be relied on as effectively.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Thank you, Director Haines. Thank you all for your testimony.”
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