Washington (CNN) – Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson blasted Rep. Duncan Hunter’s suggestion that ISIS fighters have crossed the United States’ southern border into Texas.
“Let’s not unduly create fear and anxiety in the public by passing on speculation and rumor,” Johnson said Wednesday on CNN’s “Situation Room.”
Hunter, a California Republican, claimed on Fox News on Tuesday night that he’d learned from Border Patrol officers that at least 10 ISIS fighters had been caught trying to cross the Mexican border – and that “you know there’s going to be dozens more that did not get caught by the Border Patrol. ”
Johnson said those claims are not supported by “credible, specific intelligence to that effect.” He said public officials should “be responsible in what we decide to share with the American public, so that the public is informed.”
His comments came after a Homeland Security spokeswoman called Hunter’s statement “categorically false.”
“I look at the intelligence reports from overseas, from our southern border, from our intelligence community virtually every day, numerous times a day, to be on the lookout for something of that nature,” Johnson said.
US winning fight against ISIS recruiting, official says
“So what I would say to the American public is, we’re vigilant in looking out for individuals of suspicion that may be crossing our border, and we have no specific intelligence that ISIL is planning to come into the US through our southern border, “he said, using another acronym for ISIS.
Hunter spokesman Joe Kasper said the congressman stands by his comments.
“A high level source informed the congressman – it was also said that DHS is actively discouraging any talk of IS on the border,” Kasper said.
“The congressman was conveying what he knows – and what he was told,” he said. “And as for DHS ‘statement, it makes sense that the left hand of DHS does not know what the right hand is doing – it’s been that way for a long time and we do not expect that to change. No surprise there . ”
[Baghdad-where]
Search KRG President Barzani on Wednesday with Stephen Legg member of Congress and his entourage political and security developments in Iraq.
A statement by the provincial government agency received all of Iraq [where] a copy of which was that “the two sides discussed the situation and developments on the Syrian arena and the political process in Iraq and the issue of the participation of the Kurdistan region in Iraq’s new government and relations between Erbil and Baghdad.”
Barzani stressed in this regard on the basis of the principles of true partnership, “stressing” the post of the Kurdistan region in the government of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi, also announced that the Kurdistan Regional Government seeks to solve all the problems and obstacles through dialogue and understanding. “
And highlighted the Prime Minister of the provincial government, “light on the continuing progress made by Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan, and the financial and administrative burdens heavy burden on the Government of the region, because of the war against the terrorist organization Daash, and cut the region’s share of the public budget by the Iraqi government.”
The new Barzani emphasized that “the Kurdistan region boasts the achievement of the Peshmerga continued progress,” calling for the United States to “support the Peshmerga and the continuation and expansion of its operations against al Daash terrorist, also called to assist the Kurdistan region from now on to organize the Peshmerga forces,” noting that “the Peshmerga need to heavy weapons. “
The statement pointed out that “the two sides also discussed the status of refugees and displaced people and their needs, where he called the Prime Minister of the provincial government to provide assistance to the Kurdistan region better, to be able to support and provide relief to the vast number of displaced persons and refugees in the region, also called non-governmental organizations of America and the friendly countries to play better role in helping refugees and displaced persons. “
For his part, “confirmed Stephen Legg member of Congress that the Kurdistan region in Congress, many friends, also announced that the Congress abreast of current developments and progress in the Kurdistan region, and between that they will pass on a message of Kurdistan to the Congress, in order to continue cooperation with the region, and will seek to continue their visits to the Kurdistan region, “Ended