Wed Feb 26 12:37:21 UTC 2025: ## House Report Claims 99 Terror Watchlist Individuals Released into US; Accuracy Questioned
**Washington, D.C.** – A report released by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee alleges that 99 non-citizens on the government’s Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSD), often referred to as the “terrorist watchlist,” were released into the United States between 2021 and 2023. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) cited this report in criticizing New York’s new driver’s license law, claiming nearly 100 watchlisted individuals were “let loose” in the state.
The report, which cites information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), states that these 99 individuals were part of a larger group of 250 non-citizens identified on the TSD who attempted to cross the southern border. However, DHS has not confirmed the report’s findings, leaving its accuracy in question.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data reveals 410 encounters with individuals matching TSD records at ports of entry in fiscal year 2024. CBP emphasizes that most individuals matching such records are deemed inadmissible and either repatriated or handed over to other agencies. Data on encounters *between* ports of entry is significantly lower.
The report also highlights cases where individuals on the watchlist were apprehended later, suggesting their status was unknown at the time of initial border crossing. These include instances of individuals with suspected ties to ISIS and other terrorist groups. The report further claims that immigration judges granted bonds to 27 watchlisted individuals, although it acknowledges the judges may not have been aware of their status.
Experts express skepticism regarding the report’s conclusions. Jason M. Blazakis, a counterterrorism expert, questions the report’s lack of specifics and notes the absence of any evidence of a “catch and release” program for known or suspected terrorists. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick points out the TSD’s broad scope, containing millions of names, many of whom may not pose an imminent threat.
While individual cases of watchlisted individuals being released exist, these often involve situations where their status was unknown to authorities during initial border encounters. The lack of confirmation from DHS and the broad nature of the TSD prevent a definitive assessment of the House Judiciary Committee report’s claim. Further investigation is needed to verify the accuracy of the report’s findings.
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