CBP Deletes Tweet About Arrest of Alleged Terrorist Over 'Sensitive Information' - Report

On December 20, a CBP Chief Patrol Agent from the Yuma Sector of the border reportedly tweeted that the authorities in the sector had "apprehended a potential terrorist who illegally entered the US from Mexico," adding that the arrested Saudi Arabian national was "linked to several Yemeni subjects of interest."

A tweet by a top Border Patrol official identifying a "potential terrorist" apprehended at the US-Mexico border has been removed, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

The post included "law enforcement sensitive information", "violating agency protocols," the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reportedly stated.

"All individuals encountered at or between US ports of entry are screened and vetted against a broad range of law enforcement and intelligence information to determine if they pose a threat to national security or public safety, consistent with the law," CBP Public Affairs Assistant Commissioner Luis Miranda told media.

According to the commissioner, the agency is continuing to investigate the incident in accordance with its usual procedures.

"This may include referral, if appropriate, to other relevant law enforcement entities for further investigation and a custody determination," Miranda added.

It is not clear when the tweet was deleted but Saudi Arabia's embassy in the US also posted a statement regarding the incident, saying that the man apprehended was not a Saudi citizen.

Based on the engagement with the relevant U.S authorities on this matter, the Embassy confirms that the individual mentioned here is not a Saudi citizen. We will continue to coordinate with the US govt and bring forward any facts on this matter. https://t.co/u81j7Bisa4

— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) December 21, 2021

According to Fox, which provided a screenshot of the deleted post which contained photos of the abovementioned migrant, he appeared to be wearing a jacket with an American flag patch and another with the words "Central Oneida County Volunteer" embroidered on it. The man, whose identity has not been revealed, reportedly had no affiliation with the New York-based organization, according to Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps Chief Thomas Meyers, cited by the outlet.

The group reportedly has no idea who the man is or how he got one of the jackets, which are outdated compared to the current version used by the ambulance service.

Meanwhile, Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. John Katko of New York issued a statement regarding the incident, stressing that the country is "undoubtedly experiencing a nationwide crisis."

"While I continue to seek additional details from the Department of Homeland Security about this specific instance, the reality is our nation faces a serious crisis at the southwest border and this Administration still refuses to address it," Katko stated.

Moreover, the representative and his fellow Republican colleagues questioned in November why the Department of Homeland Security has classified certain information as "Law Enforcement Sensitive," such as the number of migrants on terror watchlists.

Since the beginning of the 2021 fiscal year, the US Border Patrol has caught at least four migrants whose names match those on the terror watch list, according to reports. Many politicians fear that the actual number could be higher, given the massive influx of migrants to the southern border, which saw over 1.7 million encounters in the past year.