A former Department of Homeland Security adviser is warning [1] that the United States faces heightened risks from potential sleeper cell activity and is calling on federal officials to raise the national terror threat level following a deadly shooting in Texas now under investigation as possible terrorism.
Charles Marino, a former DHS adviser and former Secret Service supervisory agent, said the country is confronting multiple threats inside its own borders.
“We are facing a wide variety of threats here, and the problem is, they’re all located within our own borders right now,” Marino said Monday during an appearance on “Fox & Friends First.”
Marino made his remarks after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes killed several Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The military action has prompted concerns about retaliation, including warnings from security officials that sleeper cells inside the United States could be preparing to act.
“There’s no doubt that law enforcement and intelligence agencies are operating at an elevated threat level here in the United States,” Marino said.
“That’s based on the correct operating assumption that the United States has been allowed to be infiltrated with a myriad of threats from around the globe, thanks in large part to the policies of the Biden administration, which turned our borders into a sieve.”
Marino pointed to what he described as years of weak border enforcement and misuse of immigration programs, arguing that the nation is more vulnerable to both foreign and domestic threats.
He cited “the undercutting and exploitation” of asylum and temporary protected status programs, along with broader issues within the legal immigration system.
“What you have is you now have communities comprised of immigrants in the United States that have been allowed to segregate themselves based on culture and ideologies, and what this leads to is an ability to become radicalized,” Marino said.
“And as reported, sometimes this radicalization is focused on those with mental health issues, those going through a tough time in their lives… this also impacts American citizens as well, who are open to becoming radicalized.”
Marino said he maintains confidence in federal law enforcement’s capacity to respond but cautioned that adversaries may target more than public gathering spaces.
He warned that critical infrastructure and cybersecurity systems could also be at risk.
Marino urged the Department of Homeland Security to formally raise the National Terrorism Advisory System level and encouraged Americans to remain vigilant and coordinate with law enforcement if they observe suspicious activity.
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The warning comes as federal authorities investigate a deadly shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, as a possible terror attack. The case remains under review as officials examine the motive and potential links.
At the same time, political disputes in Washington over Department of Homeland Security funding have added to concerns about national preparedness.
Former ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard Zapor also addressed the situation, emphasizing that public safety should not become entangled in political disputes.
“It makes no practical sense whatsoever, and it puts our country and our communities down to something like a restaurant or a bar in Austin, Texas potentially at risk for a really unnecessary and ridiculous motive, I would say, political,” Zapor said.
“Our public safety has to be paramount above all. National security and public safety are the paramount’s of our democracy, and it’s something we have to treat with ultimate care and that nothing like politics interferes with the ability to protect our citizens.”
As tensions rise overseas following the strikes that killed Iranian leaders, U.S. security officials are monitoring for possible retaliatory threats.
Marino’s comments reflect broader concerns among former and current security professionals that the threat environment inside the United States has intensified.
The National Terrorism Advisory System, administered by DHS, is used to communicate information about terrorism threats to the public.
Marino’s call for elevating the advisory level comes amid ongoing investigations and heightened awareness across federal, state and local agencies.
Authorities continue to examine the Texas shooting and assess any connections to international developments, while law enforcement agencies remain on alert for potential follow-on threats.