Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is demanding information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas following a U.S. House Judiciary Committee report saying the Biden administration released nearly 100 people on the terrorist watchlist into the interior of the country.
“New information shows that Biden and Border Czar Harris released nearly 100 illegal aliens on the terrorist watchlist into the interior," Moody said in a press release. "Despite this obvious danger, the Biden-Harris administration has refused to communicate with the states about where these individuals are located now.
"This is absolutely unacceptable, and we demand to know who is in Florida so that law enforcement here can do the job that Biden and Harris have refused to do.”
In an accompanying letter to the Freedom of Information Act request addressed to Mayorkas, Moody said, “Following the horrific attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, the 9/11 Commission made a number of findings and recommendations regarding how to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Among those findings are (1) that ‘immigration . . . was not seen as a national security matter’ and (2) that law enforcement and national security agencies had a ‘weak system for processing and using’ available information and a ‘resistance to sharing information.’ It appears that, under your failed leadership, DHS has not taken those lessons to heart.”
The letter goes on, “To the extent DHS is not intentionally releasing known terrorists into the interior, this new report at a minimum raises serious questions regarding DHS’s vetting and information sharing policies. For example, of the at least 99 aliens on the terrorist watchlist whom DHS released, at least 27 were ordered released by an immigration judge. If immigration judges are ordering these aliens released, it is likely because DHS does not have an adequate process to inform these judges that the aliens appearing before them are on a terrorist watchlist. Making matters worse, I have consulted with law enforcement in Florida, and it is my understanding that DHS has provided the State no information or intelligence regarding terrorists who may be present in our State. As you know, Florida is a uniquely attractive destination for illegal immigrants. It is thus likely that many of the 99 terrorists DHS released have traveled to our State. Florida is also a common destination for conferences, conventions, and other widely attended events, making our State an attractive target for terrorists.”
Because of the risk described in the letter, Moody is requesting all documents from a “relevant DHS official,” from Jan. 20, 2021, to the date of this request, containing the following:
* Processes, procedures, or policies for how to determine if an alien in DHS custody is on a terrorist watchlist;
* Processes, procedures, or policies for how to consult with other law enforcement agencies regarding whether a particular alien is on a terrorist watchlist;
* Processes, procedures, or policies for how to consult with foreign governments regarding whether an alien is a terror threat;
* Processes, procedures, or policies for how to inform an immigration judge, or another person making a custody determination, if an alien is on the terrorist watchlist;
* Processes, procedures, or policies for how to locate and/or arrest an alien on the terrorist watchlist if the alien is not in DHS custody;
* Any communications expressing concerns, criticisms, or doubts regarding DHS’s processes, procedures, or policies for determining if an alien is on a terrorist watchlist; and
* Any communications with Congress, any member thereof, or any congressional staffer regarding aliens on the terrorist watchlist who were released by DHS.