Two Iranian nationals were captured at the southern border in the past two weeks, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is the latest in a series of incidents involving individuals tied to terrorism being apprehended amid the ongoing border crisis.

This discovery is made amid a war between Israel, Hamas, and other terrorist groups. The conflict began after the terrorist group launched an attack on Israel. The discovery, as well as calls by a Hamas leader for violence to be committed around the globe, could cause alarm in an escalating Middle East situation.

Fox News reports that two Iranians “raising red flags” about their potential to pose a security threat have been arrested at the American border in the last two weeks, according to sources from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Sources confirm that the identities of the two Iranians were found in the Terrorist Screening Database.

A 40-year-old Iranian man was arrested around 3 a.m. Sunday morning in Eagle Pass, Texas. He is the fourth Iranian to have been captured in Del Rio since October 1.

The TSDB had 151 hits in fiscal year 2023. This began at the beginning of October last year.

This figure is higher than the sum of the six previous fiscal years.

CBP sources have told Fox News in the first two weeks of this fiscal year that they apprehended agents who had detained more than 30 Iranians at the southern border, as well as nearly 60 Syrians. 35 Pakistanis were also arrested, along with more than 100 Russians. 285 Afghans were also detained.

Homeland Security Department’s 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment warned that “an increased number of people on the U.S. Terrorist Watch List are being encountered at the border” and that “terrorists or criminal actors could exploit the elevated flows and increasingly complex security environments to enter the United States.”

It is easy to imagine how terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, which has a strong presence throughout Latin America, could have operatives sneaking across the border. CBP is already stretched thin trying to deal with the constant influx of asylum seekers and illegal migrants trying to enter the U.S.

FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged this threat and urged Americans to be vigilant as “lone attackers or small groups attacks can occur without warning.”

Those who support open borders may easily dismiss this as fearmongering. Most people who cross the southern border, whether legally or illegally, are fleeing dire conditions at home or looking for a better future. Homeland Security has admitted that a growing number of individuals with ties to terrorism are showing up at the Southern border. This situation is alarming.

Republicans and Republican leaders have criticized the Biden administration for not implementing real solutions to the problem. The Middle East situation makes the problem seem even more urgent. Sens. Marco Rubio (R – FL) and Tim Scott – R – SC – have criticized the White House on this issue.

The Biden Administration needs to do something about our border before foreign adversaries send their recruits across it and endanger national security. pic.twitter.com/0tRz1ZZtsj

— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) October 13, 2023

.@FoxNews:
“2 Iranians who ‘could pose a significant security threat’ captured at US border”

It’s time the Biden administration recognizes that border security is national security.https://t.co/yhCxn938wb

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) October 16, 2023

What are the implications of this? The southern border is still a Gordian Knot for humanitarian, economic, and national security concerns. Although both sides disagree on how to handle the border crisis and the immigration system, it is clear that there are potential gaps in protecting national security due to our flawed immigration system. The Biden administration must now step up if there ever was a time to do so.