ICYMI: Graham Questions Secretary Noem on Sanctuary Cities & Radical Islamic Terrorism Amid Democrats’ DHS Shutdown

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem regarding threats to American national security during the Senate Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing. Amid the ongoing DHS shutdown, Graham highlighted the problems arising from sanctuary city policies and the dangers posed by radical Islam.

In the wake of the lawlessness and disruptions in Minnesota surrounding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Graham has repeatedly asserted that sanctuary states and cities are at the heart of the issue. Secretary Noem testified that she would support Congress abolishing sanctuary states and cities, a proposal Senator Graham has been leading for several weeks.

On sanctuary cities being a root cause of illegal immigration:

• GRAHAM: "Do you believe as long as [sanctuary cities] exist, [they] will be a magnet for future illegal immigration?"
• NOEM: "Yes, I do."
• GRAHAM: "So, if you're an illegal immigrant, and you can get to one of these sanctuary cities, states, or towns, you believe you'll never leave. Until you fix this, you're going to have illegal immigrant magnets. Do you agree with that?"
• NOEM: "Yes."
• GRAHAM: "Would you urge the Congress to abolish sanctuary cities?"
• NOEM: "Yes, I would, sir." https://youtu.be/E_L5R2mQHPw?si=1mb9_eLaqOImvGEz&t=430

Following Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian regime has called for retaliation against the U.S. leaving many Americans fearful of Islamic-inspired terrorist attacks on our soil. One of Senator Graham's primary concerns is the vast number of unvetted individuals from the terrorist watchlist who were let into the country during the Biden Administration.

On the threat level from Iran toward U.S. homeland security:

• GRAHAM: "Now we're engaged in military action against the mothership of terrorism, Iran, which I hope will sink pretty soon. Do you think the threat level against the United States is up or down when it comes to radical Islamic terrorists?"
• NOEM: "It's up."
• GRAHAM: "It's up? So, you mean they actually may want to come here and hit us because we hit them in Iran. I don't think you have to be a general to figure that out." https://youtu.be/E_L5R2mQHPw?si=luRm8kCzG7UW14hs&t=278

On the status of suspected terrorists who poured across Biden's open border:

• GRAHAM: "During his four years, President Biden allowed [a] 2,700 percent increase of people on the terrorist watch list to come into this country. In 2023, [there were] 172. Do you know where those people are?"
• NOEM: "No, not necessarily."
• GRAHAM: "So, we don't know where they are. They're here, but we don't know where they are because [the Biden Administration] didn't care if they came." https://youtu.be/E_L5R2mQHPw?si=V0G9eXIJZGKRbKdv&t=62

This past weekend, a naturalized citizen from Senegal carried out a mass shooting in Austin, Texas, which officials are investigating as a potential terrorist attack. In light of this violent tragedy and other risks to U.S. national security, both international and domestic, Senator Graham has slammed the ongoing DHS shutdown as foolish and dangerous at such a critical time.

On the Austin, Texas mass shooting suspect:

• GRAHAM: "Who's this guy?"
• NOEM: "He is the man that conducted the horrific act down in Austin."
• GRAHAM: " What country did he come from?"
• NOEM: "Senegal"
• GRAHAM: "He was killed in Austin, Texas, right?"
• NOEM: " He was."
• GRAHAM: "And the shirt said what?"
• NOEM: " Property of Allah."
• GRAHAM: "Property of Allah. And when you went to his house, you found a what kind of flag?"
• NOEM: " Iranian flag."
• GRAHAM: "Iranian flag. I wonder how many people are like that here waiting to pounce, and DHS doesn't have appropriated funds. This is insane. There are more people like this." https://youtu.be/E_L5R2mQHPw?si=_s6CQy9jBnho56SB&t=489

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