House Republicans are questioning the Department of Homeland Security about a recent FBI counterterrorism sting that resulted in the arrests of eight Tajik nationals who had crossed the US Southwest Border and were planning a terrorist bombing. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the lawmakers are seeking information on whether border agencies were aware of any terrorism connections when the individuals first crossed the border and how they were handled after their release until the FBI alerted them to the plot. Some of the Tajik Eight had crossed the border more than a year before their arrests, and the FBI sting operation had been ongoing for some time.
The lawmakers are specifically concerned about a report that ICE arrested the eight individuals on immigration-related charges only after the FBI informed them of their connection to the terrorist group ISIS. They are investigating whether overwhelmed border agency personnel are able to properly screen for terrorists and other criminals. The committee cites a report listing seven accidental releases of terror suspects as evidence of counterterrorism intelligence failures and calls for congressional intervention and a government investigation into the matter.
The House committee, which oversees homeland security-related government activity, is requesting immigration files on all eight suspects, communications between the FBI and ICE regarding the detainees, and any derogatory information on the terrorist watch list database. The lawmakers want a briefing by June 27 and the necessary documents and records at a later date. However, they express concern that Secretary Mayorkas may ignore their request, citing a previous instance where he failed to respond to an information request about accidental releases of suspected terrorists on the FBI watch list.
One of the serious security failures highlighted in the letter involved Afghan national Mohammad Kharwin, who was on the FBI’s terrorism watch list for his association with the designated terrorist organization Hezb-e-Islami. Border Patrol released him to ICE custody under the Alternatives to Detention program after he crossed the border illegally in March 2023. Kharwin remained free for nearly a year until his arrest in San Antonio, raising concerns about the Department’s prioritization of catch, process, and release.
The lawmakers criticize the Biden administration and the Department for ignoring the security vulnerabilities posed by the influx of illegal aliens at the border. They warn that the Department’s failure to address the potential threats posed by individuals with terrorist ties crossing the border presents a grave danger to national security. The committee stresses the need for increased scrutiny and improved screening processes to prevent individuals with terrorist connections from entering the United States through the Southwest Border. Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, authored a book on America’s covert border war and is raising awareness about the security risks posed by potential terrorists crossing the US-Mexico border.
