An Afghan migrant who was on the terrorist watchlist was apprehended by Border Patrol agents near San Ysidro, California, in March 2023. Despite suspicions, he was released without alerting Immigration and Customs Enforcement about possible terrorism ties. The man, Mohammad Kharwin, was eventually arrested in February and released on bond while awaiting an immigration hearing scheduled for 2025 in Texas. Kharwin is a member of Hezb-e-Islami, a political and paramilitary organization labeled as a terrorist group by the U.S. government.
The national intelligence director’s office has categorized Hezb-e-Islami as a “virulently anti-Western insurgent group” that posed a threat to the Western-backed Afghan government. Ultimately, Kharwin’s case highlights the challenges faced by U.S. officials in identifying migrants who may pose national security risks. This incident is the third in two years where individuals suspected of terrorist ties have been released by Customs and Border Protection. Despite concerns over the broadness of the terrorism watchlist and the potential erosion of travelers’ rights, the vetting systems used to screen migrants remain virtually the same under both the Biden and Trump administrations.
Donald Trump has emphasized the threat of terrorism at the border as a key reason for his re-election, suggesting that terrorists are entering the U.S. unchecked. However, data shows that the percentage of migrants on the terrorist watchlist encountered has been slightly lower during the Biden administration compared to Trump’s. While there have been more encounters with watchlisted migrants during the Biden administration, additional border security funding to address these issues is unlikely due to the current political landscape. There are concerns that tens of thousands of migrants are evading agents as they cross the southern border, posing a national security threat.
Former ICE Chief of Staff Jason Houser believes that while it is rare for terrorists to enter the U.S. through the border, more resources are required to address and detain individuals with terrorism ties. The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center has redetermined individuals found to have links to terrorist organizations after their release. Despite the challenges in identifying and apprehending migrants with potential national security threats, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to work together to ensure public safety and prevent individuals with terrorist ties from entering the country.
