An African illegal immigrant wanted in Senegal for alleged “terroristic activities” was unwittingly released by Border Patrol officials in Arizona two weeks before being arrested in New York City.
The suspect, who has not been identified, encountered border agents on October 3rd near Lukeville, Arizona, but was “released on his own recognizance.”
About a week later, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations agents notified Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City that he was wanted on terrorism charges in Senegal.
On October 17th, according to an ICE press release, he was detained in New York City on charges of “criminal conspiracy in relation to a terrorist organization” and “destruction, degradation and damages in relation to a terrorist organization.”
“Noncitizens who are engaged in or suspected of supporting terrorism are a direct threat to our country’s national security and will be expeditiously removed from the United States,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo.
NEW: ICE says it has arrested an illegal alien wanted in Senegal on charges related to terrorismhttps://t.co/uExWLAgqVZ
— Adam Shaw (@AdamShawNY) November 2, 2023
RELATED: Axios Mocked For Column Claiming Open Borders Are A ‘Myth’
African Illegal Immigrant Wanted on Terrorism Charges Was Roaming Free For Two Weeks
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin highlighted the case of the African illegal immigrant arrested on terror-related charges on Thursday.
“This means a wanted terror suspect was roaming freely in the US for two weeks after crossing the southern border illegally, and was released into the U.S. by Border Patrol, who had no idea about his background at the time,” Melugin wrote on the X social media platform.
NEW: Border Patrol unknowingly released an African terrorism suspect into the U.S. after he was caught crossing illegally into AZ on 10/3. One week later, on 10/10, HSI notified ICE that he was wanted in Senegal for “terroristic activities”. ICE then arrested him in NYC on 10/17.…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 3, 2023
Melugin also reported that he had inquired to Border Patrol how something like this could possibly have happened.
The trusted source told him that if their background checks come up negative, then “they assume he’s clear,” while subsequent sources might turn up other relevant information at a later date.
This is apparently what happened in this particular case.
“BP doesn’t have the luxury of sitting on these folks for weeks,” the official told Melugin.
I asked a trusted Border Patrol source how something like this can happen?
Reaponse: “If BP checks come up negative then they assume he’s clear, if derogatory info is developed through another source like an attaché or biometrics info, that shows up later, then it gets loaded…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 3, 2023
RELATED: Former Border Chief: Mayorkas Underreported Gotaway Data In Senate Hearing
Open Borders A Myth?
News of the African illegal immigrant arrested on terrorism charges comes little more than two weeks after Axios ran a column claiming that the idea that the southern border is wide open under the Joe Biden administration is little more than a “myth.”
This individual, as a reminder, was encountered by the Border Patrol in Arizona.
Critics of the President contend he has implemented specific open border policies while conveying a message to those seeking to cross the border illegally that their removal will not be taken seriously.
A terror-implicated illegal roaming the streets for 14 days will likely not sway those critics from thinking otherwise.
Shame on Axios for downplaying the realities of the southern border.
The fact is our border is wide open. Over 1.5 million gotaways have crossed the border since Biden took office.
Get your facts straight, our border is most definitely NOT “more fortified than it’s ever been.” https://t.co/a8hBtj5pbj
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) October 17, 2023
The Biden administration has overseen the arrests of 172 individuals on the terror watchlist at ports of entry so far this fiscal year and has allowed upwards of 2 million “gotaways” to vanish into the country.
The Political Insider reported in late August that the FBI was struggling to “identify and assess” more than a dozen illegal immigrants after they crossed the southern border with the aid of a smuggler with ties to the terrorist group ISIS.
All of this comes as some Democrats in Congress are actively pushing the idea of taking in a significant portion of the one million refugees fleeing the Gaza Strip, where Hamas terrorists govern and were elected by Palestinians.
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