The U.S. government is deeply concerned Iran and the Hezbollah terrorist organizations are gaining a foothold in Latin America, according to classified documents released by WikiLeaks and reviewed by WND.
Among the concerns is that Iranian-backed militants may attempt to infiltrate the U.S. or use Latin America as a staging ground for anti-American attacks, it has emerged.
Also, the U.S. caught Iran shipping explosives and attempting to ship unmanned aerial vehicles to Venezuela, the cables revealed.
Among the concerns expressed in the January 2009 cable revealed by WikiLeaks:
- “Does Tehran have any intention of using the region (Latin America) as a staging ground for potential terrorist attacks, either directly or through surrogates?”
- “Are any persons affiliated with the Iranian government making contingency preparations to create networks for potential terrorist activities later? If so, what sort of activities?”
- “Are Iranian officials attempting to access U.S. territory or U.S. private firms via Latin America?”
- “Is Iran supporting terrorist activities in Latin America?”
- “Is it responsible for supporting or training illegal armed groups in Columbia or elsewhere?”
- “Is Iran facilitating lethal aid for its allies or working to establish new terrorist infrastructure in the region?”
“Washington analysts assess that Tehran is reaching out to Latin American countries in order to reduce its diplomatic isolation and increase ties to leftist countries in the region that Tehran perceives may share its anti-U.S. agenda,” read a cable from the State Department. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s office posed a number of questions for responses from “Iran watchers and the Iran Regional Presence Office.”
WND reported in May 2010 that hundreds of illegal aliens from countries known to support and sponsor terrorism were sneaking across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The report cited documentation of illegal aliens from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen. Other illegals were from Armenia, Bosnia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Botswana and Turkey.
Based on U.S. Border Patrol statistics, there were
30,147 [illegals other than Mexicans] apprehended in fiscal year 2003;
44, 614 in fiscal year 2004;
165,178 in fiscal year 2005; and
108,025 in fiscal year 2006.
Most were caught along the U.S. Southwest border.”