Napolitano Riles Canadians By Suggesting 9/11 Terrorists Crossed Their Border

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano riled Canadian officials this week by suggesting that the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada, even though the 9/11 Commission determined they came to the United States from overseas.

The backlash prompted her to release a statement Tuesday night clarifying that she knows the terrorists did not come through Canada, according to the Canadian TV network CTV. In the statement, Napolitano stressed that Canada is a "close ally."

The kind words came after a confusing exchange on border security during a media interview.

Napolitano reportedly was asked to elaborate on comments about giving the Mexican and Canadian borders equal treatment, even though Canada is not experiencing a violent drug war.

"Yes, Canada is not Mexico, it doesn't have a drug war going on, it didn't have 6,000 homicides that were drug-related last year," she said. "Nonetheless, to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border. There are real issues there."

CTV reported that Napolitano was asked if she was referring to the Sept. 11 hijackers. She said: "Not just those but others as well."

Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador in Washington said, "Unfortunately, misconceptions arise on something as fundamental as where the 9/11 terrorists came from."

Napolitano later clarified that there have been other instances in which suspected terrorists have tried to cross the Canadian border into the United States.

Click here to read the full story from CTV.