A recent internal audit of the Department of Homeland Security (dhs) reveals that in the 4½-year period up to mid-2005 the United States arrested and then released over 45,000 illegal immigrants from nations whose governments either support state-sponsored terrorism (sst) or who promote, produce or protect terrorist organizations and their members (sic). The facts disclosed in the audit report, released in April 2006, should sober every American.

Regarding the report, Kevin Mooney, staff writer for the Cybercast News Service, recently commented:

The so-called “catch and release” policies have allowed more than 45,000 illegal aliens from countries that are well known for their anti-American views or considered “hotbeds of Islamic fundamentalism” to be freed.U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas), in conversations with sheriffs operating along the Texas-Mexico border, learned that illegal aliens of Middle Eastern descent have been able to blend into the culture south of the U.S. border and pass themselves off as Mexicans. …Between the beginning of fiscal year 2001 and the mid-way point of fiscal year 2005, the dhs audit revealed that 605,210 individuals from countries “other than Mexico” (otms) were apprehended and 309,733 of that total were eventually released.A total of 91,516 illegal aliens from sst and sic countries were apprehended over the same time period and 45,008 were released, the audit showed.

This audit clearly shows that with attention toward the war on terrorism focused abroad, the soft underbelly of the U.S. is being infiltrated by potential threats. While the majority of illegals from sst and sic countries who are captured and then released into the American population probably are not Islamic jihadists, how many radicals are needed to bring about major destruction?

The September 11 attacks were conducted by only 19 people. Even 1 percent of 45,000 is a lot more than that!

Alarmed by the findings of the internal audit, the Department of Homeland Security has since made changes in its policies toward captured otms. According to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the dhs is now making progress toward ending the “catch and release” program for otms.

But even if the new policies do work, the damage may already be done. This is another case of too little, too late. It’s possible that in the time it has taken for the government to adopt a stronger policy toward captured otms, numerous radical Islamic illegals have penetrated America’s borders and are now in a position to pose a threat to society.