The Department of Homeland Security felt the need to try to get out in front of the growing panic around ISIS fighters sneaking into the United States from Mexico, pointing out that’s not actually a thing that’s happening.
This stands in stark contrast to Rep. Duncan Hunter’s (R – CA) claims that “at least 10” ISIS fighters were caught along the border, and that he was secretly tipped off by the border patrol. The incident appears to have never actually happened.
The story is such a good one that many politicians don’t want to let it being untrue stand in the way, and several, including Rep. Jeff Duncan (R – SC) and Gov. Rick Perry (R – TX) are continuing to hype it. Sen. John McCain (R – AZ), always eager to double-down on such fears, decided to go for broke and claim the Canadian border was the real threat.
The narrative ignores the nature of ISIS, and its recruitment of Westerners. The whole point of this, and the reason ISIS infiltration was seen as a threat in the first place, was not because Westerners are the only ones who know where Mexico is, but rather that these are US, EU, etc. citizens who don’t have to sneak in, and can legally enter the country with little problem.
Many politicians are using the "ISIS are coming" in their campaign ads to scare easily deceived Americans to vote for them.