Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has become concerned over the prospect of infiltration by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Officials have acknowledged that ISIL could honor its threat to attack the United States. They said ISIL was believed to have established links with Islamists in Central and South America, including Mexico.

“I think there is a very real possibility that they may have already used that,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry said.

In an address to the Heritage Foundation on Aug. 21, Perry said ISIL might have already sent its operatives into the United States from Mexico.

The governor said ISIL could exploit the lack of control along the U.S.-Mexican border.

“There’s the obvious great concern that because of the condition of the border from the standpoint of it not being secure and us not knowing who is penetrating across, that individuals from ISIS or other terrorist states could be [crossing the border],” Perry said.

“We’ve seen historic high levels of individuals from countries with terrorist ties over the course of the last months,” Perry added.

Officials did not confirm Perry’s warning. But they acknowledged that Al Qaida, Hamas, Hizbullah and other Islamist insurgency movements were believed to have recruited operatives in Mexico.

“They [ISIL] are an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it’s in Iraq or anywhere else,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. “They’re beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology [with] a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess.”

On Aug. 20, the United States was reported to be planning a summit at the United Nations Security Council on ISIL. The summit, scheduled for Sept. 24-27, would be hosted by President Barack Obama and focus on foreign fighters in Iraq.

“The United States briefed on the plans for President Obama to hold a head of government level meeting of the Security Council during the ministerial week of UNGA on the issue of foreign fighters,” Security Council president, British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, said.

  Chuck Hagel, Gov. Perry: ‘Very real possibility’ ISIL has already exploited unsecured U.S. southern border, Gov. Rick Perry, U.S.-Mexico border