Bowling Green Today

On June 17, 2024, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), both Ranking Members of key Senate committees, addressed a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The letter requests detailed information regarding the recent apprehension of several individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State who entered the United States through the southern border.

The senators' request stems from media reports indicating that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested multiple individuals with suspected ISIS ties on immigration violations in various cities, including New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

The letter emphasizes concerns over potential vulnerabilities within U.S. border security and immigration screening processes. "Given the serious national security implications of these deficiencies," it states, "it is imperative that we receive detailed information to fully understand the scope of these issues."

Senators Paul and Graham have requested specific records from DHS by June 28, 2024. These include:

- All DHS records related to the arrested individuals

- Communications between DHS, CBP, ICE, and FBI concerning these individuals

- Documents related to their arrival at U.S. borders

- Information about detention space at the time of apprehension

- Addresses provided upon entry into the U.S.

- Personal information processed through criminal databases

- Asylum or protection claims made by these individuals

- Communications with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding these arrests

- Details about their transit through other countries

The senators concluded their letter by thanking Secretary Mayorkas for his prompt attention and cooperation.