In an interview published two days after a tragic incident where thousands of terrorists killed approximately 1,000 Israeli civilians, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy expressed concern about the potential for a similar tragedy in the United States.
Speaking with the Washington Free Beacon, the California Representative discussed Israel’s recent intelligence failure and its relevance to U.S. border policy.
McCarthy emphasized the need for American voters and legislators to remain vigilant. He warned that what had recently occurred in Southern Israel could potentially happen in the U.S. in the near future.
McCarthy pointed out that in February 2023, authorities had apprehended more individuals on terror watchlists than during the entire Biden administration.
“We should wake up ourselves. We could have the same thing happen next week to us,” McCarthy said. “We caught more people on the terrorist watchlist in February than we caught in the entire administration. We could have cells sitting inside of America right now.”
The former Speaker highlighted the vulnerability of the U.S.-Mexico border, describing it as “wide-open.” He noted that Customs and Border Protection agents routinely encounter individuals from 160 different nations, including some with a history of extremism.
A Twitter-based report from Fox reporter Bill Melugin on October 10th appeared to support the notion that terror suspects are exploiting Biden administration policies to enter the United States at an increased rate.
“We should take a step back and look at ourselves,” McCarthy said. “Your intel is never perfect and we’ve got a wide-open border. They’re coming from 160 different countries.”
“How did we not know that is happening” in the Gaza Strip? McCarthy asked. “Everybody should look at their own intelligence right now.”
According to Melugin’s data, Border Patrol has arrested 151 terror suspects so far this year, a significant rise compared to 2022 when 98 were arrested and the previous year when only 15 were apprehended. During the entire Donald Trump Presidency, a total of 11 suspects were caught at the Southern border.
McCarthy also mentioned his removal from the speakership at the hands of Rep. Matt Gaetz, expressing his regret that a few members had chosen to seek his removal.
He argued that the absence of someone in the speakership conveys a sense of weakness, and he noted that Gaetz faced criticism following McCarthy’s removal. The situation was further exacerbated by Hamas’ invasion of Israel in the days that followed.
