(NewsNation) — Just weeks after the deadly Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza, border patrol agents were warned of related actors attempting cross into the United States.
According to a memo to U.S. border patrol agents obtained by NewsNation, potential foreign terrorist fighters engaged in the Israel-Hamas conflict and with potential ties to Hamas or Hezbollah could be entering the United States via the southern border.
The document, circulated among CBP agents and shared by the San Diego Customs and Border Protection office, specifically mentions Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hezbollah.
At the time of the memo, federal agents on the border were already overwhelmed by record numbers of migrants crossing into the U.S.
FEMA says no disaster relief money was spent on migrant aid
Nearly one year later, more than 460 individuals on the terror “watch list” have been apprehended by border patrol and field operations agents.
In February, an Afghan migrant on the list was arrested after spending nearly a year in the U.S. During his time in the states, he was twice released back into the country.
In June, eight Tajik nationals were arrested for potential ties to ISIS. At least three of these individuals on the terror watch list entered the country legally through the CBP One App — and were later released.
In August, three Palestinian Nationals and one Turkish national entered the U.S. illegally and were found to have terrorist ties.
Explainer: How immigrants end up on ICE’s non-detained docket
On Friday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security released a joint statement saying that Oct. 7, 2024, could serve as the backdrop for violent extremists in the U.S. and globally.
The agencies also say the threat is not only from organized foreign terrorist groups, but from individuals. They say that online messaging highlighting the October 7 anniversary could inspire people to act alone, attacking with little or no warning.
In a separate notice, the FBI said that “it is essential to be watchful for threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions and to immediately contact law enforcement to report any suspicious activity.”
NewsNation’s Ali Bradley and Rich Johnson contributed to this report.