Congressman Williams Introduces Legislation to Stop Terrorist Invasion at the Southern Border

Washington, D.C. - Tuesday, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced H.R. 7733, the Identifying Potential Terrorist at the Border Act of 2024, which requires Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to screen and detain all individuals attempting to cross the border until the migrant is determined to not match with an individual listed on the Federal Terror Watchlist. 

“We are a land of laws, and it is past time this Administration acts like it,” said Congressman Williams. “Joe Biden is encouraging a deadly invasion of fighting-age men on American soil and each day this Democrat-created influx of illegal aliens allows bad actors to slip past Border Patrol undetected. Under current law, CBP is not required to screen migrants against the terrorist watchlist database, and as we have seen too often, dangerous criminals are released into our nation who go on to harm American citizens and communities. My bill requires CBP to screen and detain all individuals attempting to cross the border until a match is returned on that migrant. Now more than ever, we must be aware of who is in our country as Republicans fight to restore law and order and end Biden’s deadly open border policies that are destroying America.”

Background:

• Currently it is practice but not law that CBP screen migrants against the terror database.
• There has been an increasing number of reports indicating a record-breaking number of foreign nationals being detained, that after cross reference, are confirmed to be on the Federal Terror Watchlist.
• According to the CBP, the number of encounters with non-U.S. citizens on the terrorist watchlist at the southern border was over 165 individuals in FY23 and 58 so far in FY24, which is a significant jump from the 3 individuals in FY20.

• Congressman Williams’ legislation was recently featured on Fox.

Read the bill text here.

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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.