Cruz Warns of Heightened Terrorist Threat to US

Texas senator cites open borders and DHS funding cuts as increasing risk of attacks

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:03pm

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In an interview on Fox News, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) warned that the threat of terrorist attacks in the United States is higher now than it has been in decades. Cruz cited the Biden administration's policies on border security and attempts by Democrats to defund the Department of Homeland Security as contributing to the increased risk.

Why it matters

Terrorism remains a major national security concern, and Cruz's warnings highlight the ongoing political debate over border security, immigration, and funding for federal agencies tasked with preventing attacks. His comments come amid recent incidents of alleged terrorism in Texas and New York.

The details

According to Cruz, the terrorist threat is elevated due to two key factors: the Biden administration's 'open borders' policies that have allowed 12 million people to 'flood across the border,' and Democrats' efforts to 'shut down the Department of Homeland Security' despite the agency's central role in preventing terrorism. Cruz pointed to a recent attack in Austin, Texas, where a gunman with an 'Allah' T-shirt opened fire, as well as a failed bombing attempt by ISIS terrorists in New York as examples of the heightened risk.

  • Just over a week ago, a terrorist attack occurred in Austin, Texas.
  • A couple of days ago, two ISIS terrorists from Pennsylvania traveled to New York and attempted to detonate homemade bombs.

The players

Ted Cruz

A Republican senator from Texas who is warning about the increased threat of terrorism in the United States.

Joe Biden

The previous president whose 'open borders' policies Cruz blames for contributing to the heightened terrorist threat.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency tasked with preventing acts of terrorism, which Cruz says Democrats have repeatedly voted to defund.

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What they’re saying

“Well, Sean, as we sit here right now tonight, the threat of terrorist attack is higher now than it has been in decades. And there are two causes of it. Number one, we had four years under Joe Biden of open borders. We had 12 million people flood across the border — basically an open invitation to every terrorist, every Hamas and Hezbollah and IRGC terrorist come to America.”

— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator (Hannity* on Fox News Channel)

“We have seen in just the last week two terrorist attacks unfold. We saw just over a week ago in Austin, Texas, a deranged killer showing up in a sweatshirt that said 'property of Allah' in a T-shirt underneath with an Iranian flag opened fire at a bar in Austin, Texas, killing several Texans, wounding more than a dozen more. It was a brazen act of terrorism. Then we saw just a couple of days ago, two ISIS terrorists from Pennsylvania travel to New York and throw two handmade bombs. Bombs filled with nails and bolts designed to kill as many people as possible.”

— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator (Hannity* on Fox News Channel)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security will likely increase security measures and monitoring in response to Cruz's warnings about the heightened terrorist threat.

The takeaway

Cruz's comments underscore the ongoing political debate over border security, immigration, and counterterrorism efforts, with Republicans blaming Democratic policies for contributing to a perceived rise in the terrorist threat to the United States.