Bowling Green Today

On Friday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The senators requested additional information concerning the recent apprehension of several individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State who entered the U.S. through the southern border.

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, following their entry into the United States through the southwest land border."

It continues: “The circumstances of these arrests have highlighted significant potential vulnerabilities within our border security and immigration screening processes. Given the serious national security implications of these deficiencies, it is imperative that we receive detailed information to fully understand the scope of these issues and to ensure that our border infrastructure and national security systems are adequately safeguarding against such threats.”

The senators have requested specific information from DHS by June 28, 2024. The requested details include:

- All DHS records related to all individuals arrested in connection with this operation.

- Communications between DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ICE, and FBI regarding these individuals.

- Documents regarding their arrival at any U.S. border.

- Documents related to detention space at each individual’s apprehension time.

- Addresses provided by these individuals upon entering the U.S.

- Personal information processed through criminal databases.

- Asylum or protection claims made by these individuals.

- Communications between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies about these individuals.

- Details on their transit through other countries.

The letter concludes: “Thank you for your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter.”