Republicans Slam FBI's 'Motives' for Terrorist Attack Warning

Republican lawmakers are amplifying FBI warnings about terrorism related to the southern border, with one lawmaker saying there are governmental "motives" associated with "leaving borders intentionally and dangerously open."

In March, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified in front of both the Senate Intelligence Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, cautioning that unlawful entries at the U.S.-Mexico border posed a serious threat to national security. He said those vulnerabilities had accelerated since Hamas' October 7 attacks against Israel, which led to heightened awareness regarding extremism on U.S. soil.

On April 8, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X, formerly Twitter, "The FBI is saying a terrorist attack is imminent. OF COURSE A TERRORIST ATTACK IS IMMINENT BECAUSE THEY KEEP THE BORDER WIDE OPEN AND MILLIONS HAVE INVADED!"

She continued: "Do you want to know why this is the messaging right now? Because FISA is up for reauthorization and they need maximum pressure on Congress to vote to reauthorize FISA—which the FBI unconstitutionally used to spy on hundreds of millions of Americans. If they really cared about terrorism in America they would SHUT THE BORDER AND MASS DEPORT.

"But they don't. They care about controlling YOU. My eyes are wide open. None of the stupid tricks fool me anymore."

Newsweek has contacted Greene and the FBI for comment via email.

This week, the Republican-led House of Representatives is expected to revisit the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, which regulates certain types of foreign intelligence collection. The rules of the yet-to-be-numbered bill, scheduled for discussion on April 9, would address authorities under FISA's Title VII—which allows the National Security Agency to electronically surveil foreign, non-U.S. targets—and would, if any laws are passed, legally require warrants for the FBI to search for information on U.S. citizens gathered in the NSA's 702 database.

Federal intelligence agencies can conduct targeted, warrantless searches of foreigners under 702, though critics have warned of innocent Americans being improperly searched in the process. These powers are scheduled to expire on April 19, following a short-term extension under the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act that was approved by almost 150 House Republicans in December. After the upcoming discussion, Republicans could force a floor vote on certain amendments.

On X, Texas Representative Chip Roy wrote, "Marjorie is correct—the motives here are extension of FISA for Intel community-and leaving borders intentionally & dangerously open."

A spokesperson for Roy declined to comment further to Newsweek.

In July, Wray wrote identical letters to the House and Senate, warning of the negative consequences associated with not updating FISA and Section 702—which he called "invaluable to protecting Americans and the homeland from malicious cyber actors, hostile nations and international terrorists, among other foreign threats."

Wray made a similar call in December, notably following Hamas' attacks in October.

"Well, even before October 7, I would have told this committee that we were at a heightened threat level from a terrorism perspective," Wray told Senate lawmakers on March 11.

He continued: "In the sense that, it's the first time I've seen in a long, long time, the threats from homegrown violent extremists—that is jihadist-inspired extremists—domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and state-sponsored terrorist organizations all being elevated at one time.

"Since October 7, though, that threat has gone to a whole other level. And so, this is a time I think, for much greater vigilance than has maybe been called upon of us before October 7."