Ryan Van Velzer

The Republic | azcentral.com

From the mouth of the very same Arizona congressman who warned Arizona residents about the looming threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., has issued a new warning: ISIS is in Ciudad Juarez, or has been there in the last few weeks.

Franks appeared on E.W. Jackson's radio program over the weekend citing a report from a far-right legal group known as Judicial Watch, which has since been dismissed by a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, according to Andrew Kaczynski, a BuzzFeed reporter who broke the story.

Franks reportedly said:

"It is true, that we know that ISIS is present in Ciudad Juarez or they were within the last few weeks," Franks said. "So there's no question that they have designs on trying to come into Arizona. The comment that I've made is that if unaccompanied minors can cross the border then certainly trained terrorists probably can, too. It is something that is real."

After speaking with officials at Customs and Border Protection as well as the Department of Homeland Security last week, The Arizona Republic debunked the idea that terrorists are eager to enter the U.S. through the Southwest border.

Reporter Erin Kelly found that terrorists are much more likely to try and enter the U.S. by plane than sneaking across the border.

U.S. intelligence has found no credible evidence of terrorists trying to enter from Mexico, said Jenny Lasley, deputy undersecretary for analysis, in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security, to Kelly.

Still, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., remains concerned: