September 18,2025
RED FM News Desk
FBI Director Kash Patel has warned of a “sharp increase” in known or suspected terrorists entering the U.S. through Canada.
Speaking Wednesday at a U.S. House oversight hearing, Patel was responding to a question from Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley about the terrorism risks linked to illegal border crossings.
Patel said that under his leadership, crossings involving known or suspected terrorists at the southern border have declined significantly, but incidents at the northern border have risen sharply.
“We’re working closely with northern border states and federal agencies to address this issue,” he explained. “But it’s an enormous border that can’t realistically be sealed off, so we need to get creative and commit more resources.”
He added that “the enemy has adapted” and emphasized the need for greater attention to the northern border. Patel suggested many of the individuals attempting to cross originate from China, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa.
The U.S. and Canada share nearly 9,000 kilometres of land and water border. According to U.S. Customs data, there were 259 encounters with people linked to terrorism trying to cross from Canada between October 2024 and July 2025. By comparison, 1,957 such encounters were recorded at the southern border during the same period. Officials caution, however, that the tally may include repeat encounters with the same individuals.
Overall, U.S. Customs has documented 2,216 terrorism-related encounters at land borders so far in fiscal 2025, compared with 410 in 2024 and 564 in 2023.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, noncitizens with terrorism-related records are typically deemed inadmissible and quickly deported or removed.
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