Federal immigration authorities have arrested an illegal immigrant wanted in Senegal on suspicion of terrorist activity, two weeks after he was encountered by agents at the southern border and allowed into the country.
In a press release, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that the 29-year-old “undocumented Mauritanian or Senegalese national” was arrested on October 17.
ICE announced that he is wanted by Senegalese authorities on charges of collusion with a terrorist organization. Destruction, deterioration and damage associated with terrorist organizations. Direct provocation of armed crowds and acts (or preparatory acts) aimed at violating public safety.
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But he had first been encountered by Border Patrol agents two weeks earlier, on Oct. 3, at the southern border near Lukeville, Arizona. He was then processed by authorities, issued a notice to appear in New York City, and released on his own recognizance.
On October 10, a week after his release, ICE Homeland Security agents notified New York City’s Removal Operations that he was wanted on terrorism charges in Senegal.
ICE’s New York City Fugitive Enforcement Team then arrested him “without incident” outside the Federal Plaza Immigration Courthouse in New York City. He is currently in detention pending deportation proceedings.
“Nonnationals who are involved in or suspected of supporting terrorism are a direct threat to our national security and must be promptly removed from the United States,” Kenneth Gennaro, director of ERO’s New York City field office, said in a statement. ” he said. “ERO New York City will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect American citizens and residents from those who wrongly believe they can exploit immigration laws to avoid justice in other countries. ”
However, with the release of foreign nationals wanted on terrorism charges in other countries, there are concerns that more terrorists and terrorist suspects will enter the United States through the besieged southern border, especially in the wake of Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. There is a possibility that there will be even more concerns. Border Patrol agents have previously said that many countries do not share their databases with the U.S., meaning Border Patrol agents may not know an immigrant’s criminal history unless someone has committed a crime in the U.S. He expressed his concerns to FOX News.
Republicans expressed separate concerns about the record number of terrorist watchlist encounters at the southern border in fiscal year 2023 and the number of “aliens of special interest” encountered in addition to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are doing. They escaped from the agents as “fugitives”.
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Recently, a CBP memo warned agents about the possibility that foreign fighters associated with terrorist organizations like Hamas may attempt to enter the United States, but CBP has seen no indication that the fighters have attempted to do so. He emphasized.
Department of Homeland Security The 2024 Threat Assessment warns that watch-listed personnel are increasingly being encountered, stating that “terrorists and criminals are exploiting the rising tide and increasingly complex security environment to attack the United States.” “There is a possibility of infiltration,” he warned.
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DHS stressed that it has a “multilayered border security effort” that includes inspections and screening, and said encounters with known or suspected terrorists are rare.
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“Our border security efforts include biometric and background screening and vetting,” DHS officials said this week. “CBP examines and vets all individuals encountered and coordinates with the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) if the individual is determined to pose a potential threat to national security or public safety. and deny admission, detain, remove, or refer the individual, and report the individual to other federal agencies for further investigation and prosecution, as appropriate.”
