This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Sec.Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the steps they are taking to prevent members of Extinction Rebellion from entering the United States.
Rubio insisted members of Extinction Rebellion want to enter the U.S. “for the purposes of fomenting civil unrest in pursuit of their extreme political agenda” and portrayed it as a “radical European climate group known for causing civil unrest and engaging in illegal and disruptive activities.”
The letter is below.
Dear Director Wray and Secretary Mayorkas:
I write with regard to recent reporting that radical environmental extremists, including foreign nationals, plan to disrupt federal properties, block interstate highways, and cause chaos across the United States in a coordinated campaign to push a radical political agenda. I seek information on how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intend to prevent these individuals from entering the United States and what steps have been, or will be, taken to investigate and stop these individuals from inciting widespread unrest.
Members of Extinction Rebellion, a radical European climate cult known for causing civil unrest and engaging in illegal and disruptive activities, reportedly plan to enter the United States to cause chaos in furtherance of their anti-human climate agenda. Among other things, the group will allegedly block highways and disrupt federal properties, but violence and terrorist acts cannot be discounted given the group’s past threats. In 2021, the spokesperson of an Extinction Rebellion affiliate previewed potential widespread violence, stating, “[n]ot only will pipelines be blown up, but we can be certain that world leaders will be put on trial for treason or worse — be killed.”
Groups affiliated with Extinction Rebellion have already carried out disruptive acts in the United States. Over the course of two days in April, climate radicals with the group “Declare Emergency,” the U.S.-based sister organization of Extinction Rebellion, carried out disruptive and damaging activities in Washington, D.C. and blocked a major capital area roadway. Blocking major highways and roadways is not a victimless crime. Even small delays that prevent first responders from reaching injured patients or victims of crime can mean the difference between life and death. Despite the potentially deadly consequences, these zealots continue to plot illegal and disruptive activities in pursuit of their radical and destructive climate agenda.
It should be obvious that foreign nationals who are members of violent extremist organizations should not be allowed into the country. Given these concerns, I request responses to the following questions:
1. What actions are the FBI and DHS taking to ensure that foreign nationals associated with radical climate groups are not permitted to enter the United States?
2. What actions are the FBI and DHS taking to ensure that radical climate groups cannot carry out attacks and foment civil unrest in the United States?
3. What actions are the FBI and DHS taking, or have taken, to identify members of this foreign extremist group?
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
Author
