Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have formally requested additional information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas 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.

In a letter sent on Friday, Paul, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Graham, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed concerns over potential vulnerabilities in border security and immigration screening processes. The senators cited media reports indicating that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested multiple individuals with suspected ISIS ties on immigration violations in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

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."

The senators emphasized the serious national security implications of these arrests and called for detailed information to understand better and address any deficiencies in border infrastructure and national security systems.

Paul and Graham have requested DHS records related to these individuals' immigration status, criminal history, communications between DHS components like ICE and CBP, documents about their entry into the U.S., detention space at apprehension times, addresses provided upon entry, personal information processed through criminal databases, asylum claims made by these individuals, communications with law enforcement agencies regarding arrests or detainments by state jurisdictions, and details about their transit through other countries.

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