Top Points:
Border Security Concerns: Mercedes Schlapp emphasized the national security risks posed by the Biden administration's lax border policies, highlighting the influx of dangerous individuals, including those on federal watchlists, and hazardous materials entering the U.S. through the southern border.
Impact of New Orleans Terrorist Attack: While the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans was not directly tied to the border, Schlapp used the tragedy to underscore broader vulnerabilities created by an unsecured border, urging Americans to demand stronger protections.
Call for Immediate Reform: Schlapp criticized the federal government’s failure to address these threats and called for comprehensive border security reforms, urging Congress to prioritize national safety and accountability.
Full Report:
In the aftermath of a devastating terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day that claimed the lives of 14 people, conservative commentator Mercedes Schlapp is sounding the alarm on the broader national security implications of an unsecured southern border under the Biden administration. Appearing on Newsmax, Schlapp raised critical questions about the influx of dangerous individuals and materials entering the United States, emphasizing the growing threat they pose to American safety.
Schlapp clarified that while the New Orleans attacker did not enter the country via the southern border, the porous border has created vulnerabilities that cannot be ignored. “I understand this terrorist didn’t come through the border,” Schlapp said, “but what has come through the border? What materials, rare materials have come through the border as well as many of these special interest individuals that the federal government has failed to capture?”
Schlapp’s comments highlight concerns that have been growing throughout the Biden administration’s tenure. Critics of the administration’s border policies argue that the lack of stringent enforcement has allowed not only unprecedented numbers of illegal migrants to enter but also individuals on the federal government’s watchlist, including those with ties to terrorism.
Recent reports have confirmed the apprehension of several "special interest aliens" — individuals flagged for potential terrorist connections — attempting to cross the border in 2023 alone. However, Schlapp fears that many more have evaded capture due to the sheer volume of crossings and the strain on border enforcement resources.
In addition to individuals, Schlapp warned about the potential for hazardous materials and contraband to slip through the border. These could include rare and sensitive materials that, in the wrong hands, might be used to construct weapons or pose environmental risks.
Schlapp urged Americans to demand accountability from their leaders, calling for immediate reforms to strengthen border security. Her comments come amid heightened concerns about the Biden administration's border policies, with critics pointing to record-high illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and a surge in fentanyl-related deaths as evidence of the crisis. The New Orleans attack, while not directly tied to the border, has intensified scrutiny over the administration’s perceived failures to protect the homeland.
Schlapp’s message underscores a broader call for vigilance and reform, particularly in addressing national security threats exacerbated by an unsecured border. With the new year underway, many conservatives are calling on Congress to prioritize border security measures and ensure that America’s safety is no longer compromised by negligence at the border.
As the nation mourns the victims of the New Year’s Day tragedy, voices like Schlapp’s are amplifying the need for comprehensive solutions to protect the country from both internal and external threats.
References:
Newsmax coverage featuring Mercedes Schlapp, January 2, 2025.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics on "special interest aliens" and illegal crossings, 2023.
Federal law enforcement reports on materials seized at the border, 2023.
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