Federal agents have apprehended a record number of individuals on the terrorist watchlist at the northern U.S. border, highlighting a growing national security concern. Among those caught was Mohammad Hasan Abdellatif Albana, a Jordanian national flagged as a terrorist threat, who entered the U.S. illegally near Lynden, Washington.
Albana’s arrest is part of a troubling trend. According to CBP data, 1,216 known or suspected terrorists have been apprehended at the northern border since 2021, accounting for 64% of all KST arrests in the U.S. during that time. By contrast, 687 KSTs were apprehended at the southern border over the same period.
The northern border’s limited resources and lack of infrastructure exacerbate the problem. Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar, described the border as “a national security vulnerability.” Homan pointed to the absence of walls, insufficient technological surveillance, and a lack of agents as major weaknesses.
CBP officials note that the 5,525-mile border with Canada is significantly harder to patrol than the U.S.-Mexico border. In some areas, one Border Patrol agent is responsible for covering hundreds of miles, leaving vast stretches unmonitored.
Homan has vowed that the Trump administration will secure the northern border, alongside efforts to strengthen the southern border. “This is about protecting Americans from threats that are being ignored,” he said.
The surge in northern border arrests underscores the need for immediate action to address these vulnerabilities and protect national security.
