Border Patrol Officials arrested an Afghan national on the terror watchlist who crossed the U.S.—Mexico border Wednesday alongside a group of migrants near Otay Mesa, according to San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
NBC 7 reached out to the U.S. Border Patrol for information on the arrest, who deferred to the FBI. The FBI would not confirm the arrest, instead releasing a statement that said:
"The FBI has no comment on your specific inquiry. We are vigilant in our efforts to detect and assess possible threats and we work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe," FBI San Diego Public Affairs responded.
In a lengthy statement, Supervisor Desmond used the arrest to criticize the Biden Administration’s new border policies
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
"The Federal Government should focus on developing a secure and efficient immigration system that prioritizes thorough screenings and background checks while providing a streamlined and fair process for those seeking lawful entry," Desmond wrote.
Stories From the Border
Rep. Darrell Issa, who represents California's 48th Congressional District, confirmed the arrest on Sunday evening in a tweet:
"I can confirm that a wanted terrorist crossed our open border in the San Diego region just days ago — even if the Biden Administration won’t," Issa wrote.
No other information was immediately available, including the name of the man arrested or why he was on the watchlist.
