8 suspected ISIS members were detained in Los Angeles and other cities: References
Following an investigation conducted in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, eight people suspected of having ties to ISIS were taken into custody, sources close to ABC News reported.
According to reports, the suspects entered the country in 2023 from the southern border; they were apparently from Tajikistan.
According to authorities, the suspects were first granted entry into the country following vetting in which no difficulties related to national security were found.
However, sources claim that in the last several weeks, investigators have discovered evidence linking them to ISIS-K.
The terrorist organization has been said to recruit heavily in Tajikistan.
Additionally, analysts claim that there has been an increase in the threat of terrorism.
“I believe that the level of threat is at its highest point ever,” stated Bobby Chacon, a retired FBI agent. “In recent testimony before Congress, the attorney general and the director of the FBI both stated as much. At night, it keeps them awake.”
Over the past few days, ICE agents have been making arrests.
It took some time for additional inquiry details to become public.
The accused are being deported, as of right now. No accusations of terrorism have been made.
This statement was issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI:
“Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities. The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. As the FBI and DHS have recently described in public and partner bulletins, the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment. The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security.”