Panel/Report: What Terrorist Migration Over European Borders Can Teach About American Border Security - cis.org/Report/Terrori… pscp.tv/w/cJLQVzFEWUVY…
If you have any questions for the panel, please reply to this tweet. cc:@markskrikorian
@BensmanTodd - Center's Texas-based senior national security fellow. WH anti-terrorism strategy document was first time this threat was cited. It deserves a seat at the national strategy table.
2014-2018 104 Islamist extremists entered EU external borders - likely an undercount - with 28 successfully completed attacks.
A majority of the 104 terrorists applied for international protections enabling them to stay in Europe.
75 of the 104 terrorists were affiliated with ISIS.
Average period of time terrorists remained in Europe was 11 months.
Between 3-4,000 migrants from Middle East, Africa, South Asia entering the US annually.Less than Europe as much more expensive.
@RobinSimcox currently serves as Margaret Thatcher Fellow for The Heritage Foundation, where he specializes in counterterrorism and national security.
Flow of people into Europe . . . included those entering for malicious purposes. 1 million in 2015 - open borders dream - most just waved through with little background checks. @RobinSimcox
Germany after migration crisis - terrorists attacks and attempts spiked. Sweden took in large numbers resu lting in sharp rise in crime and murders, sexual assaults . . . discovered large percentage of those claiming to be minors were not.
Can countries deport the migrants? In Germany the states have that power not the national gvt. Germany now paying asylum seekers to leave - up to $3000.
Anti-immigrant parties are rising in popularity due to the massive numbers.
Applicable to the US. Inclusion is easy, the conversation about exclusion is difficult but you can't just let in everyone. Can democracy survive without being able to decide who can be included and not included if want to maintain national identity?
JAMES CONWAY served as a Special Agent for the FBI focused on international terrorism for over 25 yrs. After 9/11, he was appointed to the position of Program Manager of Counterterrorism & Counter-intelligence, U.S. Embassy in Mexico City
After 9-11 FBI decided to put anti-terrorism desk in Mexico. Focus on terrorism was front and center. Threat focus - sophisticated international smuggling efforts with end goal of moving people into the US
after 9-11- one and half million people crossing the border legally and illegally very day. Among these numbers were SIAs - the 2000 mile border had a connection to terrorism.
Operational perspective was to identify smuggling organizations - Mexicans cooperated - many SIAs were being held in MX detention centers and collected info from them.
Percentage of terrorists is small, but small numbers have high consequences. Deaths, significant impact on security expenditures, also because of fear on voters it impacts political parties, more border controls, Brexit, etc.
US policies need to take into account consequences not just numbers.
Fear of terrorism impacts the economy - for example after 9-11 the beaches and resorts were empty in MX
Can you really do the kind of oversight you need if the size of the problem - the flow of people - is so big? Simcox says already impacting by bringing back some of military to help at home. Do you want such a big police/military force? It changes society.
18 years since 9-11 we have gotten better at this game, but landscape has gotten more sophisticated.
