The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified over 400 migrants brought into the U.S. by an ISIS-affiliated network, labeling them as “subjects of concern,” according to a recent NBC News report. Of these individuals, about 50 remain unaccounted for, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are actively seeking to arrest them on immigration charges. Approximately 150 have been apprehended, with some already deported, and officials are aware of the whereabouts of 17 more who could be arrested soon. Others may have voluntarily left the country.
A senior official explained that the potential ties to ISIS prompted heightened scrutiny of the individuals involved in smuggling migrants to the U.S. border. Law enforcement has been arresting migrants linked to this network for months, and there is currently no evidence suggesting they pose a threat to the U.S. Several were released because they were not on the government’s terrorism watchlist.
Recently, authorities arrested eight men from Tajikistan suspected of having ISIS affiliations. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed concern over the potential for a terrorist attack in the U.S. following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which led to heightened tensions and conflict in the Middle East. Garland emphasized that the threat level has increased significantly, and the possibility of a terrorist attack is a daily concern.
The DHS Inspector General has criticized the department’s current screening and vetting processes for non-citizens and asylum seekers, stating that without proper screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot effectively manage security at air and land ports of entry. This leaves the U.S. vulnerable to admitting dangerous individuals or allowing potentially threatening asylum seekers to reside in the country.
In response, the Biden administration announced a new policy in early May to address these challenges. This policy grants immigration judges and asylum officers greater access to classified information to help identify migrants with potential terrorist ties. Announced in a memo on May 9, the policy requires asylum officers to seek approval from their agency heads, such as ICE or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to share classified information. This new rule overrides a 2004 directive that restricted the use of classified information in immigration proceedings to a last resort.