FBI Director Kash Patel testified before Congress that the U.S. northern border has emerged as a significant national security concern, following years of focus on the southern border.
Patel noted that while the southern border has largely been secured, the northern border remains vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists from nations including China, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan.
“The enemy has adapted,” Patel told the House Judiciary Committee, emphasizing the need to strengthen surveillance and enforcement efforts along the northern frontier.
Patel’s remarks coincide with rising numbers of terrorism suspects identified in the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Dataset, commonly referred to as the watch list. Data from Customs and Border Protection shows a sharp increase in matches at official border crossings.
At the southern border, the number of individuals flagged on the watch list grew from fewer than 10 per month earlier this year to more than 500 monthly between May and July.
Additionally, Border Patrol agents arrested 37 individuals on the watch list over that period, representing a notable uptick compared with the end of the Biden administration and the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Experts attribute part of the increase to the Biden administration’s classification of major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
This designation has caused some individuals previously not flagged to appear on the watch list, most of whom are Mexican nationals, per the Conservative Brief.
Patel emphasized that the northern border presents a greater challenge due to its vast geography and the relative ease with which adversaries can adapt compared to the southern border, where security measures have substantially reduced illegal crossings and terrorism-related incidents.
Patel also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) criticized Biden-era programs that he said had admitted potential terrorism suspects.
Grassley cited the U.S. evacuation from Kabul, noting intelligence flagged derogatory information on roughly 1,600 evacuees, some identified as potential threats.
Patel stated the FBI is reviewing the data, reiterating that Russia, China, and Iran remain primary counterintelligence priorities, with related investigations increasing significantly.
Trump-era border policies have also contributed to a decline in immigration court backlogs.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review reported that pending cases decreased from over 4.2 million at the end of the Biden administration to 3.8 million in just over six months under Trump’s enforcement measures.
Improved efficiency in immigration courts, combined with a reduction in new cases due to stricter border enforcement, has accelerated case processing. Previously, the government averaged nearly 150,000 new cases monthly while completing fewer than 60,000.
Since January under Trump, the courts averaged 29,000 new cases monthly while completing over 65,000.
Patel and other officials emphasized that stronger border enforcement sends a deterrent message to potential migrants abroad. Former immigration judge Andrew “Art” Arthur noted that the reduction in backlog ensures timely hearings, faster protection for valid claimants, and quicker deportation of invalid cases.
Overall, Patel’s testimony highlighted the strategic shift in U.S. national security focus from the southern border to the northern border, underscoring concerns about terrorism and intelligence threats exploiting less monitored entry points.
