Federal authorities have just slammed the door on thousands of potential threats in a border security crackdown that’s making headlines.
In a stunning display of resolve, fiscal 2025 saw U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol apprehend a record 3,127 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs), while the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) prevented another 6,525 from even setting foot on American soil, thanks to new designations of cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), as Just the News reports.
This all kicked off earlier this year when the State Department labeled groups like the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and others as FTOs, a move that’s clearly paid off in spades. Compare that to the previous administration’s peak of just 1,903 KST apprehensions in a year, and you’ve got to wonder what took so long.
Breaking down the numbers for fiscal 2025, CBP’s Office of Field Operations nabbed 2,782 KSTs at southwest border ports of entry and 284 at northern ports, while Border Patrol caught 61 between southwest entry points. Historically, the northern border with Canada has been a hot spot -- accounting for 64% of KST apprehensions between 2021 and 2024 -- but this year’s southwest surge shows threats are everywhere.
Contrast that with fiscal 2023’s previous record of 487 KSTs at the northern border and just 83 at the southwest, and it’s clear the game has changed. Even back in 2017, during the first full year of a stronger border focus, only 217 were stopped up north and 118 down south.
Within the first 100 days of the current administration’s renewed focus, the NCTC identified nearly 1,200 alleged terrorists already inside the U.S. illegally. Of those, a staggering 750 were linked to brutal groups like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the Sinaloa Cartel. If that doesn’t make you sit up straighter, what will?
By October, the NCTC had added over 35,000 KSTs to the federal Terrorist Screening Dataset, a critical tool shared with CBP and other law enforcement to flag threats. This biometric and biographical database is the backbone of keeping dangerous individuals out. It’s not just bureaucracy -- it’s a lifeline.
Speaking of keeping threats out, NCTC Director Joe Kent didn’t mince words: “from entering our country that under the previous administration would have been allowed in.” Call it a polite jab, but Kent’s point stings -- past policies left gaps, and now we’re finally closing them with gusto. Let’s hope this momentum isn’t derailed by progressive agendas that prioritize optics over safety.
The process for handling KSTs is straightforward but firm: at ports of entry, they’re often deemed inadmissible and sent back or handed to another agency, while those caught between ports are typically detained and removed. As CBP notes, they “are most commonly detained and removed or turned over to another government agency for subsequent detention and law enforcement action.” It’s a no-nonsense approach that avoids the endless debates we’ve seen in softer policy eras.
The NCTC isn’t just crunching numbers; they’re supporting major takedowns of cartel operations. Recent arrests include Sinaloa Cartel leaders, money launderers, cocaine traffickers, and a particularly vile CJNG-affiliated figure known as “La Diabla.” This isn’t just paperwork—it’s dismantling evil at its core.
Last month, “La Diabla” was apprehended for running a horrific network that lured pregnant women to remote areas, performed illegal cesareans, harvested organs, and sold infants to U.S. couples for about $13,500 each. If there’s a clearer case for why these FTO designations matter, I’m not sure what it is. This kind of barbarism demands the toughest response.
These arrests show the ripple effect of designating cartels as terrorist entities -- a policy that’s long overdue when you consider the human cost of their operations. It’s not about politics; it’s about protecting the vulnerable from predators who exploit every loophole.
Let’s not forget the broader context: for years, the northern border was the main concern for KST apprehensions, but the southwest surge in 2025 proves threats adapt faster than bureaucracy. CBP and Border Patrol are finally getting the tools and policies to match that reality. It’s a refreshing change from the hand-wringing we’ve seen in the past.
While some might argue this crackdown risks overreach, the data speaks for itself -- thousands of potential threats stopped before they could harm anyone. The balance between security and compassion isn’t easy, but when cartels are trafficking babies and drugs, the priority has to be clear. Let’s keep the focus on safety over sentimentality.
In the end, fiscal 2025’s record-breaking efforts signal a turning point in how America guards its borders against those who mean harm. With over 9,000 KSTs either apprehended or prevented from entry, and cartels finally labeled for what they are, there’s hope that common-sense security can prevail. Here’s to policies that protect rather than placate -- may this be just the start.
