Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and other GOP senators questioned U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday about precautions being taken to prevent terrorist-linked Gazans from crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

In a letter, senators requested answers to the following questions from Mayorkas by August 7.

"When a Palestinian national, or Canadian TRV holder, attempts to enter and/or claim asylum at a U.S. port of entry, what is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s protocol to either permit or deny their entry?"

"Have there been instances of Palestinian nationals entering the United States through our southern and/or northern borders? If so, how many have been released into the U.S. despite the U.S. not accepting Gazan refugees? How many have been denied entry? For those that are denied, what is the process for removal?"

"If a Gazan claims asylum at the southern or northern border, under what circumstance would the Department of Homeland Security release the individual into the U.S.?"

"Have Gazans been permitted entry into the country via the southern or northern border? If so, how many and under what status?"