U.S. intelligence agencies led by ODNI’s NCTC say they blocked over 10,000 people with alleged narco‑terror ties from entering the country in 2025 and added more than 85,000 identities to terrorism databases. Officials credit the Trump administration’s cartel terrorism designation with enabling expanded intelligence tools, which led to visa revocations, arrests and deportations. Traditional international terrorism remains a concern, while inquiries into alleged foreign links to groups such as Antifa are ongoing.
U.S. Says It Blocked 10,000 Alleged Narco‑Terrorists in 2025; 85,000 Identities Added to Watchlists
U.S. intelligence officials prevented more than 10,000 individuals with ties to narco-terrorism from entering the country in 2025.
U.S. intelligence officials say they prevented more than 10,000 people with alleged ties to narco‑terrorism from entering the United States in 2025 and added over 85,000 related identities to terrorism databases, according to information provided to Fox News Digital.
Intelligence Sharing and Actions Taken
Officials told Fox News Digital that intelligence produced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)—specifically the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)—was shared with partners at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI. That information, officials said, enabled a range of "denied access" measures, including visa revocations, arrests, deportations and opened investigations.
Statements From Leadership
"President Trump gave the order to secure the homeland, and ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) delivered," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Fox News Digital. "In 2025, intelligence shared by our team to federal, state and local partners stopped more than 10,000 persons with connections to terrorism from accessing our country."
Gabbard and senior counterterrorism officials credited the Trump administration’s designation of certain cartels as terrorist organizations with enabling the broader use of intelligence tools across the community.
Captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others in New York City, U.S., January 5, 2026.
Scope And Impact
According to officials, the NCTC added more than 85,000 new identities to its terrorism database in 2025. That database feeds the FBI’s Terror Watchlist and is shared with local law enforcement nationwide. One senior official said that, by leveraging these tools preemptively, the U.S. was able to prevent suspected narco‑terrorists from ever setting foot in the country.
Context And Ongoing Threats
Officials also noted that more traditional international terrorist threats remain a concern. The same senior official told Fox News Digital that fewer than five attempts by traditional terrorists were detected trying to enter the United States in the period reviewed; those attempts reportedly involved commercial air travel rather than the southern land border and were denied.
The NCTC said it continues to focus on threats tied to cartels and gangs, al Qaeda, Iranian networks and ISIS. Officials additionally said Antifa has been listed as a terrorist organization for purposes of investigation and that inquiries into potential foreign links to that group are ongoing.
Attribution And Caveats
All figures and assessments were described to Fox News Digital by U.S. officials and come with the officials’ qualifications. The numbers reflect actions and database additions in 2025 as reported by those sources.
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