Cruz: Danger from sleeper cell attacks ‘has never been higher’ Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) warned this week that the danger posed by Iranian-linked sleeper cells operating inside the U.S. has “never been higher,” as tensions escalate between the two nations.
“The risk of terrorism right now is quite high,” Cruz said, responding to a question from NewsNation’s Jackie Koppell. “We tragically saw in Austin, Texas, just last weekend, we saw a terrorist attack. We also saw another terrorist attack in New York City.”
Cruz tied the risk to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), arguing the funding lapse has weakened the agency’s ability to respond to potential terrorist activity.
Republicans sought to use the conflict with Iran to pressure Democrats, who have stonewalled funding over demands for reforms to President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, into reopening the DHS by emphasizing its role in counterterrorism. That framing has failed to move the needle, however.
“The danger has never been higher than right now, particularly after four years of open borders under Joe Biden,” Cruz said. “We know that radical Islamic terrorists entered this country, and there’s a vulnerability all across this country.”
“It is disgraceful and indefensible for the Democrats to vote party line not to fund the Department of Homeland Security right now,” he added.
His warning comes as U.S. intelligence officials have reportedly intercepted communications believed to be from Iran that could serve as an “operational trigger” to activate potential sleeper agents outside the country, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News.
The network reported that the encrypted communications were relayed across multiple countries shortly after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
Following the initial strikes, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social platform X that he had instructed counterterrorism and intelligence teams to “be on high alert” and mobilize necessary security assets.
“While the military handles force protection overseas, the @FBI remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home – and will continue to have our team work around the clock to protect Americans,” Patel wrote.
Fears that Iran may utilize sleeper cells outside their country in retaliation for the military operation grew after a gunman opened fire at a popular bar in Austin’s entertainment district on March 1, killing three people and injuring more than a dozen others.......
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5778483-ted-cruz-sleeper-cell-rhetoric-iran/
