Desert Invasion - U.S.

Arrest adds to fears of terrorist presence on Mexican border

By Mike Sunnucks, The Business Journal

November 22, 2005

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2005/11/21/daily23.html

The apprehension of an Iraqi national with ties to Al Qaeda along the U.S. border with Mexico is increasing security concerns and adding ammunition to those pushing hard for tighter border controls.

Texas Congressman John Culberson recently released information that an Iraqi on the U.S. terrorist watch list has been arrested and detained along the Texas border with Mexico....

"The apprehension of an Iraqi on the Mexican border is not a surprise, it is a continuing concern. Last year the Border Patrol arrested some 650 suspected terrorists from countries of 'national security interest' trying to cross our southern border," said Scottsdale Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth. "Remember that for every illegal border crosser caught, at least another three make it in. We are playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette and the longer we resist securing our border and enforcing our immigration laws the more likely a terrorist incident becomes."

"The link between narco-terrorism and the Mexican drug cartels is a known fact," said Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi in a statement Tuesday....

Hayworth, U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl and Valley Congressmen Trent Franks and John Shadegg are among the top advocates of tough immigration and border controls to help curtail illegal crossings into the Arizona and other Southwestern states. Franks and Hayworth have signed onto a bill that would build a border wall along the 2,000-mile Mexican border....

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