Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Wednesday that he believes militants with the Islamic State terrorist group will undoubtedly try to exploit the U.S. border crisis to gain access to American soil.
“We will never, never secure that border 100 percent. We have to take action overseas using intelligence and other means,” Sheriff Arpaio told Sean Hannity on Fox News.
“We have thousands of kids coming into the United States across the Mexican border from Central America. Where was the CIA? Where was the State Department? Where was the U.S. ambassador? You’re trying to tell me they did not know that this activity would be occurring? If they did not know, there is something wrong over there,” he said.
The Maricopa County sheriff said Islamic State militants will “of course” try to exploit the lack of border security that has allowed a flood of illegal immigrants into the country in recent months.
“Anybody can cross the border,” he said. “They look at CNN and Fox, and everywhere else … you’re trying to tell me they don’t know all the politicians running for office saying ’the border must be secured?’ They know it’s not secured. So why not utilize that 2,000-mile border to sneak across? That’s just common sense. So, let’s hope that we can do something, especially in foreign countries, and stop them from reaching the U.S. border.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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