Trump: "We caught 10 terrorists over the last very short period of time. 10. These are very serious people."
We rated a similar claim by Pence as
Pants on Fire, and experts remain dubious of Trump’s version.
"No matter what period of time Trump is talking about, there is no evidence to support his claim," said Alex Nowrasteh, a senior immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute.
He counted fewer than 10 people who had crossed the southern border and were charged with terrorism-related crimes.
David Sterman, senior policy analyst at the New America International Security Program, said,
"There are no cases that come to mind among the more than 400 people accused of jihadist terrorism crimes since 9/11 tracked by New America in which terrorists infiltrated across the southern border."
Trump’s State Department in July 2017
reported there is "
no credible information that any member of a terrorist group has traveled through Mexico to gain access to the United States."
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen
reported in June her department "now blocks 10 known or suspected terrorists a day from traveling to or attempting to enter the United States."
That’s across all ports of entry by land, air and sea, not just the Mexican border.
