A sting operation resulted in the arrest of a number of immigrants who may have had connections to ISIS terror groups after they entered the country through the southern border.
The sting operation in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia resulted in the likely capture of six terrorists, according to the New York Post’s sources. A Joint Terrorism Task Force surveilled two more people for “many months” before making an arrest.
At first, the immigrants had been “completely screened” and given permission to stay in the nation. Following their admission, officials became wary of the group after listening to disparaging remarks made on a wiretap.
According to reports, the foreign nationals are from Tajikistan, a former Central Asian Soviet republic.
The Post claims that one of the accused mentioned something about a bomb.
“Remember the bombs at the Boston Marathon? I’m concerned that it might happen again or even worse,” the person told the Post.
“Individuals or small groups will use the events in the Middle East as warped motivation to conduct assaults here at home.”
Regarding the report, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI jointly issued a statement.
“ICE agents have detained a number of non-citizens in response to immigration authorities during the past few days.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces were closely involved in the execution of the operations. In ICE detention, the arrested individuals are awaiting removal proceedings, according to the statement.
It further stated, “The United States has been in a heightened danger environment, as the DHS and FBI have recently described in public and partner warnings.” “The FBI and DHS will keep up their round-the-clock efforts, in collaboration with our partners, to detect, look into, and neutralize possible threats to national security.”
According to reports, at least two of the men crossed the border in the spring of 2023.
According to authorities consulted by CBS News, there is no proof that the group is actively planning a terror assault.
The claim is particularly concerning in light of the brutal attack on people in March by Tajikistani terrorists at the Crocus City concert hall, which is located in a suburb close to Moscow. There were hundreds of injuries and 145 deaths. Later, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the massacre.
In the past, FBI Director Christopher Wray has provided testimony to Congress regarding the possibility of a terror attack in the United States by terrorists who may cross the border with other migrants.
Wray told a House Appropriations subcommittee, “Our most pressing concern has been that individuals or small organizations may draw perverted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out strikes here at home.”
The possibility of a coordinated attack within our borders, such as the ISIS-K assault that occurred at the Russian music hall a few weeks ago, is becoming more and more alarming.