The key findings of the Committee are listed below.

It is a frightening and yes, eye opening account of the failure of our government to protect us.  Why you ask?  Every border agent knows that for all of the persons captured coming across our border, tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands slip across (according to the report quoting interviewed border patrol estimates in  August of 2006 -- they do not capture between 70 and 90 percent of all those crossing the border illegally).  We too can do the math.  

If the border patrol and ICE (formerly the INS) agents have captured tens of thousands of so called Special Interest Aliens -- many of whom are  members of terrorist organizations or people receiving documentation from Venezuela, then the actual numbers missed is in the hundreds of thousands. 

Plenty of grist for the American housed Jihadist program.  Note the term OTMs -- it means Other Than Mexican nationals -- typically South American or Middle Eastern or Caribbean transients using Central or South America and Mexico as their route into the U.S.:

1. 30,147 OTMS apprehended in FY2003, 44,614 in FY2004, 165,178 in FY2005 and 108,025 in FY2006.  The implication of double, triple or up to nine times the number who slipped through. 
   
2. DHS has reported a 41% increase in apprehensions of Special Interest Aliens (aliens from countries such as Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Cuba, Brazil, Ecuador, China, Russia, Yemen, Albania, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan)
3. "The data indicates that each year hundreds of illegal aliens from countries known to harbor terrorists or promote terrorism are routinely encountered and apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally between Ports of Entry."  Examples given (by no means the only cases, these are only indicative of the problem):
   
1. Seven illegal alien Iraqis in Brownsville Texas in June of 2006
2. Afghani illegal found swimming across the Rio Grande near Hidalgo, Texas in August of 2006
3. Seven Chinese illegals apprehended in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas in October of 2006.
4. Neeran Zaia and Basema Sesi were arrested after being found to be operating a human smuggling operation by bringing in illegal middle eastern aliens through staging areas in Central and South America, into Mexico and then across the border into the U.S.  Investigators documented more than 200 and fear the number is far larger.
5. Mahmoud Youssef Kourani pleaded guilty to charges aiding Hezbollah in Dearborn Michigan, soliciting funds and sending them overseas.  He came into the U.S. across the Mexican border.  He is the brother of the Hezbollah Chief of Military Operations in Southern Lebanon.
6. Salim Boughader Mucharrafille, a cafe owner in Tiajuna Mexico, was arrested for smuggling more than 200 Lebanese into the U.S illegally.
4. FBI Director Meuller told the committee on Mar 8, 2005, "...there are individuals from countries with known al-Qa'ida connections who are changing their Islamic surnames to Hispanic-sounding names and obtaining false Hispanic identities, learning to speak Spanish and pretending to be Hispanic immigrants."
5. According to senior U.S. military and intelligence officials, Venezuela is "emerging as a potential hub of terrorism in the Western Hemisphere, providing assistance to Islamic radicals from the Middle East and other terrorists.
6. Venezuela is providing support -- including identity documents--the could prove useful to radical Islamic groups...the Venezuela government has issued thousands of cedulas, the equivalent of social security cards, to people from places such as Cuba, Columbia, and Middle Eastern nations that host foreign terrorist organizations...some of these cedulas could be subsequently used to obtain Venezuelan passports and even American visas, which could allow the holder to elude immigration checks at the U.S.-Mexican border with fraudulent Venezuelan documents.
7. Islamic radical groups that support Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamiya Al Gamat are all active in Latin America.  These groups generate funds through money laundering, drug trafficking, and arms deals, making millions of dollars every year via their multiple illicit activities. These cells reach back to the Middle East and extend to this hemisphere...
8. Federal law enforcement entities estimate they apprehend approximately 10 to 30 percent of illegal aliens crossing the border (this leaves 70 to 90 percent who are NOT apprehended).

Reading this list of findings is extremely concerning.  Intelligence experts point to the unknowns surrounding this data and shake their heads.  One of our contacts believes we are only seeing 1 tenth of the problem in this data. The report also points out that if a terrorist wanted to smuggle in a weapon of mass destruction, they would use the very high paid Coyotes associated with the Drug Cartel's high value cargo smuggling operations, those with extremely sophisticated methods of crossing and transport at both ends, those with very low capture rates.  They are extremely expensive yet no one doubts the ability of terrorists to fund such high value crossings.

As Ollie says in his piece, this situation poses a clear and present danger to the security of the United States.  We at MILNET believe something must be done IMMEDIATELY to counter this problem.

State and Federal Efforts Underway

The report cited a number of activities underway.  While they are impressive, it is clear that much needs to be done in addition...none of the current efforts will reduce the traficking in humans or drugs the nearly magnitude of adjustment necessary to truly improve the border security:

1. Operation Rio Grande:  Joint U.S. and State of Texas law enforcement effort
   
1. Increased patrols/law enforcement presence
2. Centralized command, control and Intelligence
3. Increased Texas State funding and border security resources
4. Enhanced technology utilized on the Texas border with Mexico (includes fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft and covert surveillance assets)
   
5. Six Joint Operations Intelligence Centers and Border Security Operations Centers deployed
1. Amarillo, Copus Christi, El Paso, McaAllen, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco Texas.
6. Five major operational surges between June and September of 2006
2. Department of Homeland Securities Secure Border Initiative (SBI):
1. More agents to patrol the border, secure ports of entry and enforce immigration laws
2. Expanded detention and removal capabilities to eliminate "catch and release"
3. Increased manned aerial assets, UAVs and next-generation detection technology
4. Increased physical security assets along the border
5. SBInet
1. installation of electronic surveillance and detection assets (details classified)
2. staff to monitor and analyze the data from these assets
3. intergration into the U.S. Homeland Security terror information center.
6. May 15, 2006, President announced 6,000 National Guard will be sent to the border for a two year deployment to assist with logistical and admin support; operate detection systems; provide mobile communications; augment border-relaetd intelligence analysis efforts and to build and install border security infrastructure.
7. ICE ended the "catch and release" program, no detaining 99 percent of all illegal aliens apprehended instead of letting them melt into the illegal immigration population.
8. DoHS is seeking court and legislative support to end the Orandes initiative which prevents the return of many El Salvadorian illegals.
9. A concerted effort along the U.S. side of the border between Neuvo Lorado, Mexico and Laredo, Texas.
3. Department of Justice added 25 new Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute only immigration-related crimes in the area along the border.
4. On September 29, 2006, Congress passed the Secure Fence Act of 2006, providing for 700 miles of two-layered reinforcd fencing along the Southwest border as well as electronic detection and surveillance equipment.
   
5. On October 4, 2006, The President signed the FY07 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.  This provides $21.3 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement including 1,500 agents, 6,700 detention beds, and $1.2 billion for existing border fencing repair, vehicle barriers, technology and tactical infrastructure.  It also criminalizes tunnel building under the U.S. border.

Updates:

11/26/2007:  A report cited by the Washington Times ⁴ says that the FBI warned Homeland Security, the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency were warned in May of 2007 that "60 Afghan and Iraqi terrorists were to be smuggled into the U.S. through underground tunnels with high-powered weapons to attack the Arizona Army base".  The base is Fort Huachuca, the largest U.S. intelligence training center.  "According to the FBI advisory, each Middle Easterner paid Mexican drug lords $20,000 "or the equivalent in weapons" for the cartel's assistance in smuggling them and their weapons through tunnels along the border into the U.S" the Times article went on to say.  Also, according to the article, Fort Huachuca modified their security arrangements in light of this new threat.  The article DOES NOT say what other actions have been taken or why the attack has not taken place.

10/20/2007:  An AP article ³ claims that 24 South Americans and Mexicans hired a boat to take them from the coast of Mexico to the U.S. coast, presumably up by San Diego.  The article ³ implies that the problem is that U.S. firms have been pressured to cease operating rail lines that run through Mexico, up through and across the U.S. 

Sources: