According to an internal federal memo obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation, federal authorities captured a terrorist at the U.S. southern border and released him into the country, where he was held for 10 days until his arrest in Minnesota days earlier. He had been roaming freely for nearly a year.

According to the memo, the anonymous person, identified only as a member of the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab, was captured on March 13, 2023, near San Ysidro, California, as he illegally crossed the southern border. He was reportedly released immediately after being arrested. DCNF is not publishing confidential sources to protect their identities. A memo sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said the Terrorist Screening Center deemed him a “nonconformist” after putting his name on a terrorist watch list.

However, on January 18, 2024, the Terrorist Testing Center wrote in a note that it had “re-determined” that the person was a “confirmed member of al-Shabaab” and was involved in the use, manufacture, and transportation of explosives and firearms. It is stated in. Two days later, ICE arrested an al-Shabab member in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Related: Federal officials record record number of people crossing southern border in one month)

Border Patrol intercepts 172 terrorist watchlist items Suspect Former Homeland Security officials say the steady stream of illegal immigrants at the southern border makes it easier for bad actors to enter the country.

“Many people within the Biden administration, including Director Mayorkas, have repeatedly assured us that the vetting process at the border is comprehensive and thorough,” said former ICE field director and current director of the National Immigration Enforcement Center (NICE). said John Fabricatore, a board member. he told DCNF. “However, we continue to see alarming cases in which terrorists are free to roam the United States for months after being released at the border, before their criminal and terrorism histories are uncovered. ”

The number of terrorist suspects arrested for attempting to cross the southern border illegally continues to grow. Between October and December of last year, Border Patrol arrested 50 undocumented immigrants who were on a terrorist watch list. according to to federal data. For comparison, there were a total of 30 such encounters from 2017 to 2020.

“This situation puts our country at great risk, and it is clear that our security depends on enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders,” said Fabricatore, who is also running for Congress.

The mass release of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration has put enormous pressure on federal authorities to quickly move people out of the system.

“People are being released before completed records tests have been returned on the subject. This will preclude proper processing and placement of potential terrorists once their results are known.” , an ICE official who previously served as a Border Patrol agent told DCNF on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Fabricatore said Border Patrol can detain migrants for up to 72 hours, but it often takes longer to obtain information from background checks.

“Overburdened Border Patrol agents with excessive numbers of illegal border crossers have reduced processing times and prevented more vigorous initial investigations into immigrants' backgrounds. It only looks at criminal records within the United States, not outside its borders. Linking together derogatory information from other databases can take days, weeks, or even months. Yes,” Fabricatore said.

In 2023, there were 860,000 people known to have entered the country illegally without fear.

“Many within the Biden administration, including Secretary Mayorkas, have repeatedly assured us that the vetting process at the border will be comprehensive and complete,” said Fabricatore, who is running for Congress. “However, we continue to see alarming cases in which terrorists are free to roam the United States for months after being released at the border, before their criminal and terrorism histories are uncovered. This situation puts our country at great risk, and it is clear that our security depends on enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders,” Fabricatore said.

The US government is considered Al-Shabab is a foreign terrorist organization since 2008. The terrorist organization operates in Somalia and has also carried out attacks in Kenya and Uganda. according to To the National Counterterrorism Center.

On January 21, the US military killed three al-Shabaab terrorists in a self-defense airstrike at the request of the Somali government.

According to the National Counterterrorism Center, al-Shabaab has carried out bombings, including suicide bombings, and the group has assassinated peace activists, international aid workers, journalists, and numerous civil society figures in Somalia. The terror group attacked Nairobi's Westgate Mall in 2013, killing 67 people, and killed hundreds in 2017. Civilian Mogadishu was attacked twice by suicide bombers.

After Hamas attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, federal authorities warned Border Patrol agents that Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other groups trying to cross the southern border illegally, according to an internal memo obtained exclusively by DCNF. , warned to be wary of Hezbollah terrorists. time.

“It's clear that our security depends on immigration enforcement and border security,” Fabricatore said.

ICE did not respond to DCNF's request for comment.

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