Why don’t we stop illegal immigrants by shutting and locking the door? asks Peggy Grande

It’s meant as a simple first-line deterrent to someone entering who is unknown or unwelcome. It avoids many problems that would arise with entry before they even occur. Of course, locks can be broken, and entry can be gained other ways, but it at least sends a signal to the casual passerby that they cannot come in.

That is why to most Americans it is incomprehensible why the Biden administration is not just keeping its “doors unlocked” but has “removed its doors” altogether at our southern, and now northern, borders.

They have invited and created a massive problem for our nation which could have easily been avoided.

The feds have been trying to cover up their incompetence, but this week finally admitted the truth which the nation already knew – America is in danger. Grave danger. Not only from beyond our borders but from within.

On Capitol Hill this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: “The ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole ‘nother level.”

The fact this surprises them when it was a multitude of Biden policies which set the conditions for elevated threats in the US is frightening.

While I agree the threat is raised, I disagree the war in the Middle East is either the cause or the accelerant. Joe Biden’s failed policies are to blame – and not just his border policies.

His appeasement of the mullahs in Iran gave a green light to the terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel.

Leaders in the Biden administration advanced these failed policies – including Christopher Wray. I also believe this warning is far too late and doesn’t address the “root causes” as Joe Biden and his utterly inept so-called border-czar Vice President always say are vital to examine.

Plain and simple – the border is wide open, and they are incentivizing illegal crossing. They could stop it in a day if they wanted to.

But they clearly don’t want this problem solved.

The American people have been far too tolerant of this incompetence and have allowed the lies which perpetuate this problem to go unchecked.

Once again, a disastrous Biden policy has created a dangerous situation in which no amount of self-reflection, introspection, or distraction can change.

America’s security is being threatened by millions of people who have been invited into our country without us knowing who they are, where they are, or what their intentions are for being here.

The nation is being changed without the consent of its citizens – and not for the better.

The danger cannot be overstated – both today – and in the future – since there is no way to screen or deport these millions of illegal border crossers now. The threat that many bring with them remains.

Looking at the basic numbers, tens of thousands of individuals from nations of “special interest” have already entered the United States from countries which are historically hostile to America and its way of life.

In addition, hundreds of individuals who are on the terrorist watch list have also crossed America’s southern border. The administration is unwilling, or unable, to tell Americans how many have been returned to their country of origin, or if they continue to live among us.

This is information to which we should be entitled.

Wray added: "We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago."

"In just the past few weeks, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West," Wray added that even al-Qaida has "issued its most specific call to attack the United States in the last five years."

Terrifying words.

Yet these warnings, which were issued to Congress and endanger us all, were given as if we the people should do something about it.

What is the average American supposed to do with those chilling statements?

Be terrified?

Be vigilant?

Citizens and leadership from both sides of the political aisle have been sounding the alarm on this issue ever since Biden took office and he repealed the effective border policies of the Trump administration.

We knew this would be the result.

We are not surprised.

Why are they?

But as is typical with the Biden administration, they create a problem, wave their hands at the problem, claim to be concerned about the problem, ask for money to solve the problem, never actually solve the problem (because it’s a policy which advances their political agenda), and move on to create another problem, feign outrage or worry, and repeat the cycle.

So, now they are concerned that individuals or groups who are “consuming the imagery and propaganda may quickly escalate to violence.”

And though they do not have any indications that any established groups are currently plotting attacks against Americans on US soil, they also said they do not rule it out.

Not exactly comforting.

This week in New York a man from Senegal was arrested who had been accused of terrorist acts in his home country.

He crossed the border illegally in Arizona two weeks earlier but was released into the interior of the nation.

How many others do we not know about or cannot find and deport?

Christopher Wray, in his testimony, added: "On top of the homegrown violent extremism and domestic violent extremist threat, we also cannot and do not discount the possibility that Hamas or another foreign terrorist organization may exploit the current conflict to conduct attacks here on our own soil."

Of course, let’s remember that by “homegrown violent extremism and domestic violent extremist threat” Wray means all so-called ultra MAGA Trump supporters, grandmas who walked to the Capitol on January 6, dads who are angry that their daughters are sexually assaulted in school bathrooms by illegal aliens or transgender students, moms who don’t want sexually explicit material discussed with their kindergartners, and of course, Catholics who pray for the lives of the unborn.

These are the so-called extremists the Biden administration equates with dangerous drug smugglers, human traffickers, and those on the terrorist watch list who are being allowed to enter our country unstopped.

A despicable lack of respect for half of the nation.

Perhaps if Wray and co spent more time preventing known terrorists and those who do not belong on US soil from crossing the border in the first place they would not need to be concerned.

And perhaps if they spent less time focusing on moms and dads, grandparents and the God-fearing, they would have the bandwidth to do their true job, which is protecting Americans and keeping us safe, not targeting citizens who are trying to protect their families because the federal government has failed to do so.

The Biden administration is consistent in its misplaced priorities and continues to make decisions which make us less safe and less secure.

Rather than act like victims of circumstances beyond their control, they need to step up and take control of the border and close it. Period.

The head of ICE’s New York office of Enforcement and Removal Operations stated this week that: “Non-citizens who are a direct threat to our country’s national security will be expeditiously removed. We will use every tool at our disposal to keep American citizens and residents safe from those who erroneously believe they can exploit our immigration laws to escape justice."

Apparently, for this administration, “every tool at our disposal” doesn’t include the simplest and most obvious, which most Americans employ every day – close the door – and lock the door. Problem solved.

Peggy Grande was executive assistant to Ronald Reagan and is the author of The President Will See You Now. She was chairwoman of World for Brexit and served as a political appointee in the Trump Administration. Peggy serves on the Board of Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and the Board of The Center for American Ideas.