Homeland Security: We can’t stop ISIS from coming into US

Homeland Security officials warned Wednesday they don’t have a full picture of the Americans and Europeans heading to Syria to train with ISIS and therefore can’t stop them from coming into the US.

“We don’t have a fulsome picture in all cases,” said Jennifer Lasley, a deputy undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security.

“It does concern us,” added Troy Miller, an acting assistant commissioner with US Customs and Border Protection.

House Homeland Security Committee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called the situation worrisome.

“You don’t know what you don’t know. We only have estimates of how many Westerners … are in ISIS ranks, and potentially thousands that we do not know who they are,” he said.

At issue is the rising threat of ISIS terrorists who have recruited Americans and Europeans to their jihadist cause and radicalized those fighters in Syria. Americans and Western allies can travel easily into the US under visa waiver programs, raising huge concerns they’ll return home with murderous intentions.

“Terrorists could be just one visa-free flight away from arriving in the United States,” said Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), chairwoman of a House Homeland Security subcommittee, who held a congressional hearing on the matter Wednesday.

She’s introducing legislation to revoke passports of Americans who traveled abroad for terrorist training.

Members of Congress cited estimates that 12,000 foreigners have traveled to Syria to engage in the civil war, including more than 1,000 Europeans and more than 100 Americans, with a dozen Americans believed to be fighting alongside ISIS.

“ISIS is a threat to the United States and to the people of the United States,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

Source: 

http://nypost.com/2014/09/10/homeland-security-we-cant-stop-isis-from-coming-into-us/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaHm7XjJV-Q&index=13&list=UUFjOi1ZpZVErr8EYxg8t1dQ

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/world/middleeast/assad-forces-attack-moderate-insurgents.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1