The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently identified over 400 migrants brought to the United States by an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network, marking a significant concern for national security. Among these individuals, over 150 have been arrested, while the whereabouts of more than 50 remain unknown, prompting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to continue their search to arrest them on immigration charges.
A senior Biden administration official stated that the potential ties to ISIS among those involved in smuggling these migrants into the U.S. led authorities to exercise heightened caution and expansive authority to mitigate any risks. Despite these measures, no direct threat to the U.S. homeland has emerged from the migrants arrested thus far.
Most of these migrants crossed the southern border and were initially released into the U.S. by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they were not on the government’s terrorism watchlist at the time. However, recent terrorist attacks in Russia have increased concern about ISIS and its affiliate, ISIS-K, prompting DHS to scrutinize migrants from Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Russia, where ISIS-K has been active.
Former FBI counterterrorism section chief Christopher O’Leary emphasized the urgency and legitimacy of ICE’s actions. He explained that while there might not be evidence of active plotting, using immigration charges to detain potentially dangerous individuals is a prudent measure. He added that locating and arresting these individuals is crucial to national security, even if they are not currently linked to any specific terror plots.
The officials noted that some of the 150 arrested migrants have already been deported, while others remain in custody or under surveillance in various states. A few might have left the U.S. voluntarily. ICE recently made notable arrests, including eight Tajik men in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, suspected of having ties to ISIS. Additionally, an Uzbek man was arrested in Baltimore after living in the U.S. for over two years when his home country alerted U.S. authorities about his ISIS affiliation.
Despite these incidents, counterterrorism officials maintain that the overall threat of terrorism from migrants crossing U.S. borders has historically been low. Data from CBP indicates that only 0.014% of migrants matched names on the terrorism watchlist since October, translating to less than one out of every 7,000 migrants vetted. However, concerns persist about the adequacy of vetting processes, especially with increased immigration from countries that do not share law enforcement information with the U.S.
Recent cases have highlighted these challenges. For instance, an Afghan named Mohammad Kharwin, who was on the U.S. terrorist watchlist, was mistakenly released by CBP due to insufficient information at the time of his crossing. He spent nearly a year in the U.S. before being arrested in San Antonio. After being released on bond, he was rearrested following a news story on his case.
The DHS Office of Inspector General has reported on the inefficacies in vetting procedures at the southern border, criticizing the department’s technology, procedures, and coordination in screening and vetting non-citizens. In response, the Republican-led House Homeland Security Committee has requested an unredacted version of the Inspector General’s report to assess DHS’s handling of this critical national security issue.