Media outlets reported on Tuesday that U.S. officials have arrested eight individuals from Tajikistan suspected of having ties to an Islamic State affiliate. The suspects were apprehended in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia after illegally crossing the southern border into the United States.
According to sources from CBS News, ABC News, and NBC News, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained eight foreign nationals in recent days on immigration charges.
Authorities revealed that although no national security concerns were detected during the border crossing of eight individuals last year and earlier this year, a subsequent wiretap revealed that they had suspected ties to IS-Khorasan, also known as IS-K.
In a recent statement, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security reported the arrest of numerous non-citizens by ICE agents in accordance with immigration authorities.
According to a statement, the arrests were made in collaboration with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The detained individuals are currently in ICE custody and are awaiting removal proceedings.
At present, the FBI and DHS are collaborating to deport the eight migrants. Authorities have stated that there is insufficient evidence to press terrorism charges against them. As per sources, the federal agencies have confirmed that there is no ongoing terror scheme.
According to a Department of Homeland Security official who spoke to CBS News, eight migrants entered the United States without the necessary documents and were provided with notices to appear in immigration court.
Months after FBI Director Christopher Wray sounded the alarm about the “range of threats emanating from the border” and urged Congress to increase funding, arrests have finally been made.
During his testimony in April, Wray expressed growing concern about the possibility of a coordinated attack on US soil, similar to the ISIS-K attack that occurred at the Russia Concert Hall.
Tuesday’s statement on the arrests stated that the United States is currently experiencing a heightened threat environment, as described by the FBI and DHS in recent public and partner bulletins.
IS-K, as highlighted by the National Counterterrorism Center, is one of the deadliest factions of ISIS. They have carried out numerous attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as in Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, IS-K has expressed interest in expanding their operations to the United States and Europe.
In 2016, the United States designated it as a foreign terrorist organization.
