U.S. Homeland Security officials are on the lookout for a terrorist suspect who may be trying to get into America by way of the U.S.-Mexico border.

A Somali diplomat said Thursday he's concerned that a member of the group al Shabaab may be heading to the U.S. The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Somalia and have declared allegiance to al Qaeda.

Omar Jamal, first secretary of the Somali mission at the United Nations, said his nation "is in a constant battle with al-Shabaab" and urged American authorities "to be careful who is bad and good in this new alarm."

Texas authorities were alerted last week. However, Jamal said this isn't the first warning.

"They're trying to be extra cautious, but we didn't think it was that much of a situation," he said. "We've been working with them on this issue for a very long time. It's not the first time."

Many oppressed Somalis in Latin America try to gain asylum in the U.S. Jamal urged U.S. authorities to "follow leads" if they have them, but still be fair to those entering the U.S. legitimately.

"We don't want [those seeking asylum] to get caught in the middle of this war on terror," he said.

The latest alert was issued after federal prosecutors in San Antonio added new charges against 24-year-old Somali, Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane. Dhukane pleaded not guilty May 14 in federal court to three counts of immigration fraud.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said they could not comment on the alert or the connection to Dhakane.