U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has called for heightened security measures along the U.S.-Canada border in response to Canada’s recent decision to increase the number of Gazan refugees allowed into the country. Rubio, joined by several Republican colleagues, expressed concerns that Canada’s immigration policy could pose a national security threat to the United States.
On July 24, 2024, Rubio posted, “Canada allowing Gazan refugees with potential terrorist ties into their country poses a national security threat to the U.S. northern border.” He urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to implement stricter precautions along the northern border.
The call for increased border security follows Canada’s announcement in May to permit more Gazans entry under temporary special measures. These measures allow Palestinian nationals from the Palestinian Territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, to apply for temporary resident visas (TRVs). Once in Canada, these individuals are issued a “Refugee Travel Document,” which replaces their origin-country passport and allows them to travel internationally.
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Rubio and his colleagues argue that this policy could enable individuals with terrorist ties to enter Canada and subsequently attempt to cross into the United States. “The possibility of terrorists crossing the U.S.-Canada border is deeply concerning given the deep penetration of Gazan society by Hamas,” Rubio stated in a letter to Mayorkas.
Joining Rubio in this call to action were Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, Mike Braun, Joni Ernst, and Josh Hawley. Their letter outlined concerns about the lack of reliable records and background checks for individuals from the Palestinian Territories, highlighting the potential risks to U.S. national security.
“While the Biden Administration claims that all foreign nationals are inspected pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, this administration’s lax border enforcement is increasingly apparent, as terrorists and known criminals continue to stream across U.S. land borders, including from Canada,” the letter read.
The senators referenced data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, which reported encountering over 233 suspected terrorists at the northern border in FY24, a number already higher than totals from previous years.
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“Unfortunately, so far in FY24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations has encountered more than 233 suspected terrorists at our northern border, with many more likely going undetected. This is already higher than totals in previous years,” the letter stated.
The letter continued, “Irrespective of Canada’s immigration policies, the U.S. should not waive common-sense terrorist screening and vetting for any individual entering the U.S. through other countries. It would be irresponsible for the U.S. to not take necessary heightened precautions when foreigners attempt to enter the United States.”
In their letter, the senators posed several questions to Mayorkas, seeking clarification on the protocols for handling Palestinian nationals or Canadian TRV holders attempting to enter or claim asylum at U.S. ports of entry. They inquired about instances of Palestinian nationals entering through both southern and northern borders, the processes for permitting or denying entry, and the conditions under which Gazans claiming asylum might be released into the U.S.
“Have there been instances of Palestinian nationals entering the United States through our southern and/or northern borders? If so, how many have been released into the U.S. despite the U.S. not accepting Gazan refugees? How many have been denied entry? For those that are denied, what is the process for removal?” the letter asked.
The letter concluded with a call for coordination with the U.S. Department of State to ensure that the U.S. is informed by the Canadian government if particularly high-risk individuals are allowed entry from Gaza.
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