U.S. Senator Rand Paul | U.S. Senator Rand Paul official website
U.S. Senator Rand Paul | U.S. Senator Rand Paul official website
U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have formally requested information from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the recent apprehension of several individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State. These individuals reportedly entered the United States through the southern border.
In a letter sent on Friday, June 17, 2024, Senator Paul, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Senator Graham, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed concerns over potential vulnerabilities in U.S. border security and immigration screening processes.
The letter states: “We, as the Ranking Members of committees with jurisdiction over immigration and national security, are writing to request additional information concerning the recent apprehension of several individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State. According to media reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested multiple individuals with suspected ties to ISIS on immigration violations in various cities across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.”
The senators highlighted that these arrests underscore significant potential weaknesses within current border security measures. They emphasized the need for detailed information to understand these issues fully and ensure that national security systems are effectively safeguarding against such threats.
The letter requests specific details by June 28, 2024:
- All DHS records related to those arrested.
- Communications between DHS agencies regarding these individuals.
- Documents related to their arrival at U.S. borders.
- Information on detention space at apprehension times.
- Addresses provided upon entry into the U.S.
- Personal information processed through criminal databases.
- Details on any asylum or protection claims made by these individuals.
- Communications between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies about these individuals.
- Transit details through other countries.
“Thank you for your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter,” concluded Senators Paul and Graham in their letter.
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