On Tuesday, the White House said it “couldn't possibly answer” whether terrorists had already crossed over the southern border.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made the statement during the White House press briefing while being pressed by Fox News' Peter Doocy on what FBI Director Christopher Wray said earlier in the day was the terror threat to Americans reaching a ‘”whole other level.”
“We are always concerned about the potential presence on U.S. soil of terrorists coming from overseas. That's something we're always worried about,” Kirby said, initially dodging when asked whether the White House had considered the possibility that terrorists could already be in the country after crossing the border.
The Fox corresponded asked if the White House was feeling any “heartburn” around that considering there were 600,000 known gotaways that had crossed into the U.S.
Gotaways is a reference to the migrants that were seen or detected by Border Patrol agents but not apprehended.
“I can't speak to this intelligence report that was leaked to the media. I wouldn't do that. I can tell you that we are constantly monitoring as best we can, all ports of entry to the country for the potential arrival of anybody who might wish us harm,” Kirby said.
Doocy responded that the point of his question was whether it was possible somebody wanting to commit a terror attack in the U.S. during a time of elevated threat had already crossed the southern border.
“I couldn't possibly answer that question, Peter. All I can do is tell you that we have remained vigilant to that potential threat,” Kirby said.
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