NO.

In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 169 encounters with individuals identified as “potential matches” in its Terrorist Screening Dataset at the U.S.- Mexico border.

The TSDS originated as a database of known or suspected terrorists. CBP stated that in the last decade, it has been expanded “to include additional individuals who represent a potential threat to the United States, including known affiliates of watchlisted individuals.”

Not all encounters with CBP result in arrests. Watchlisted non-citizens encountered at land ports of entry may be denied admission to the U.S. barring justification for their arrest, and those encountered after entering may be detained or removed, according to CBP.

The total number of encounters reported may include multiple attempted crossings by the same individual, according to the CBP website.

“Terrorist” encounters made up 0.0083% of all FY23 border patrol encounters, CBP data shows.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Brandy Ruiz is Audience Engagement Reporter for El Paso Matters.