Two Jordanian nationals were arrested for attempting to ram their way into Marine Corps Base Quantico with a box truck. One of the men had illegally crossed into the US at San Diego, California in April and was detained by border patrol. However, he was processed and let go to pursue asylum after authorities found no derogatory information against him. The incident was first reported by local news outlets and later highlighted by The Post. The men are now in ICE custody, awaiting deportation, and their identities have been withheld by authorities.
Sources initially told the local outlet that one of the men was on the terror watchlist. Border Patrol agents revealed that results from the FBI on terror suspects often don’t come in until after they’ve already been released, which makes it difficult to conduct full checks within 72 hours. In recent examples, individuals like Mohammad Kharwin and a 27-year-old Somali, who were both confirmed members of designated terrorist groups, were able to enter and roam freely in the US before being re-arrested. Border Patrol agents have cited being overworked and unable to properly vet migrants due to the overwhelming number of individuals flooding the Southern border since Biden took office.
During the Quantico incident, the Jordanian duo claimed to work for an Amazon subcontractor and were there to make a delivery. When military officers realized they had no permission to be there, they ignored instructions from officers and tried to drive onto the base but were stopped by barriers. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin requested a briefing from President Biden on the incident, expressing concerns about the federal government’s failure to disclose the immigration status of those involved. Top brass at Quantico waited two weeks to alert personnel of the attempted breach, causing confusion and concern among employees.
The Biden administration has faced criticism for their failure to secure the border, leading to incidents like the attempted breach at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Border Patrol agents claim they are overworked and unable to properly vet migrants due to the sheer number of individuals arriving at the Southern border. The delay in receiving information from the FBI on terror suspects has also contributed to individuals with ties to designated terrorist groups slipping through the cracks and entering the US. The incident at Quantico highlighted the potential risks and security threats posed by individuals who are able to enter the country illegally.
Border Patrol agents have previously raised concerns about their inability to conduct thorough screenings of migrants due to the overwhelming number of individuals arriving at the border. In the case of the two Jordanian nationals who attempted to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico, they were allowed to enter the country despite having questionable backgrounds. The delay in receiving information on terror suspects has also allowed individuals with ties to designated terrorist groups to enter the US. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of border security measures and the need for improved vetting processes to prevent potential security threats.