Rep. Roy demands Mayorkas to stop stonewalling terrorist border crosser information

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) demanded Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas release an update on the number of known or suspected terrorists who have crossed the southern border.

Representative Roy wrote in a letter, “I write with serious concerns regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) apparent withholding of vital information on known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) crossing the southwest border.”

On May 16, 2024, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin reported U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined to fulfill his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking the nationalities of foreign nationals arrested by Border Patrol whose names appeared on the Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS). CBP claimed fulfilling the FOIA request could threaten the privacy of these individuals, despite Mr. Melugin requesting nothing more than the nationality of the individuals.

Congressman Roy also requested information on KSTs from DHS back in November. The department still has not provided a briefing on the matter.

Representative Roy said, “I reiterate my request for a briefing on KSTs as soon as possible and urge you to immediately – and publicly – release the important information requested by Mr. Melugin.”

Read the full letter here.

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