FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – FBI Director Kash Patel spoke to members of law enforcement from across the country in South Florida on Monday.
“It’s the local law enforcement that really feeds the protection of the community in this country,” he said. “Right now, the focus, given the nature, especially with what just happened, has to be on homeland security and protecting our communities.”
Before the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, Patel warned that Iran-backed sleeper cells are already in the country awaiting activation.
Monday, he told the nation’s sheriffs they are the eyes and ears of terror intelligence.
“We are a little more on alert than we usually are, but we will take the guidance from our federal partners,” said Carolina County, Maryland Sheriff Donald Baker.
Large cities’ law enforcement agencies, including in Miami-Dade County, have stepped up vigilance at schools, synagogues, and large events.
For Bonneville County, Idaho Sheriff Samuel Hulse, it’s the crowds heading to Yellowstone.
“We always want to be careful at any large public gathering,” he said. “Everyone has to be concerned with the proper security, but we also don’t want to not do things because we are fearful.”
Patel tied terror cells directly to border insecurity, with immigration enforcement a major focus of the meetings.
“Everything is odd right now, a lot of things are odd,” said Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Sheriff Garry McFadden. “America is on high alert because of what happened in the last couple of days, immigration issues and everything else.”
