These special interest aliens are predominately from Middle Eastern countries identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as national security threats to the U.S.

In the past two years, the southern border has faced overwhelming numbers of illegal border crossers—including those who have been identified as threats to the U.S. 

More than 250,000 illegal aliens have entered the U.S. from foreign nations that U.S. Customs and Border Protection do not specify on their public data portal. 

However, recently revealed internal CBP data shows from October 2021 to October 2023, Border patrol agents have apprehended more than 70,000 special interest aliens between the ports of entry. 

Special interest aliens are from countries identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose some national security threat to the U.S.

“SIAs are not regarded as terrorists but, because they arrive as almost complete strangers from nations where avowed anti-U.S. terrorist groups are prevalent, homeland security protocols dating to a 2004 CBP Memorandum and still largely in effect call for SIAs to be tagged and detained until they can go through extra security screening,” explains Senior Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies Todd Bensman. 

Bensman says that under normal circumstances, SIAs undergo face-to-face interviews, background checks against classified databases, and analysis of their statements as well as belongings.

However, over the past three years, it has become increasingly clear that CBP is not operating under normal circumstances. 

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