Two Yemeni men on the FBI’s list of terrorists have been arrested in recent months for illegally entering the United States from Mexico, federal officials said on Monday.
The men, aged 33 and 26, were arrested near the Port of Entry of Calexico, California, in separate incidents on January 29 and March 30, respectively, according to Customs and Border Protection.
The older man was found with a cell phone SIM card located under the insole of his shoe, CBD said.
Records checks carried out after the two men were caught revealed that they were on a government watch list for suspected terrorists and an “air exclusion” list, officials said.
The CBD did not disclose the identities of the men.
The terrorist watch list includes people who are “known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activities,” according to the FBI.
News of the arrests arrives as the number of migrants heading to the US-Mexico border has increased since President Joe Biden took office, which represents a challenge for his government as it works to house unaccompanied minors who arrive in large numbers .
And last month, Republican lawmakers visiting the southern border said, citing customs and border protection agents, that some terrorism suspects were heading for the crossing.
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