Terror assessment highlights vulnerability of existing US-Mexico smuggling routes, efforts to secure World Cup in Russia

The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Terror Threat Snapshot for June highlights growing concerns about terrorists gaining access to existing smuggling routes between the United States and Mexico.

Rear Admiral Brian Hendrickson, director of the U.S. Southern Command Network Engagement Team, testified about the threat in May during a committee hearing on combating transnational criminal threats. Hendrickson testified that these “corrosive activities” threaten national security and the stability of U.S. allies.

“The region is also home to networks that specialize in smuggling illegal immigrants from places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, all places where terrorist organizations like al-Shabab, ISIS, al-Qaeda and their affiliates operate,” Hendrickson said. “…Some of these people have ties to terrorism and some have intentions to conduct attacks in the homeland.”

Thomas Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, echoed the sentiment echoed Hendrickson’s concerns. Homan testified, “Panama has a great program down there. People that were known terrorists had been turned around in Panama and sent back before reaching our shores.”

The June Terror Snapshot assessment also notes the one-year anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22, 2017, that left 22 people dead and 116 injured. It also noted that the World Cup is slated to begin in Russia this week. ISIS has issued a barrage of threats in the lead up to the World Cup.

Russian authorities have also reportedly “foiled several plots throughout the year, most recently on May 11 when security services arrested 20 from western Siberia who had stockpiled weapons near Moscow. The men were reported to be members of ISIS, and were plotting an attack on the Victory Day memorial march in Moscow.”