ICE Arrests Illegal Immigrant Wanted For Terrorist Offenses

(USNewsMag.com) – An illegal “Mauritanian or Senegalese citizen” wanted by authorities in Senegal for alleged terrorist activities was arrested on Oct. 17 after being released into the country following an Oct. 3 encounter by agents at the southern border.

The illegal immigrant, who is wanted on charges of destruction, degradation, and damages as well as criminal conspiracy related to a terrorist organization, was arrested in New York City, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The man is also wanted for acts (or preparatory acts) that are aimed at compromising the safety of the public as well as the direct provocation of an armed crowd.

Border Patrol agents near Lukeville, Arizona, first encountered the 29-year-old man on Oct. 3. He was then released into the United States on his own recognizance after being processed and served with a Notice to Appear in New York City. On Oct. 10, Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City was notified by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations agents that the man was wanted in Senegal on charges of terrorism. He was arrested by ICE’s New York City Fugitive Operations team “without incident” outside of the Federal Plaza immigration court. He is currently in custody for deportation proceedings.

In a statement, Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo said the noncitizens “engaged in or suspected of supporting terrorism” would “be expeditiously removed” from the country.

The news comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has been warned by FBI Director Christopher Wray that the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas could inspire new threats to Americans.

Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, about 2.5 million illegal immigrants have been released by the Department of Homeland Security into U.S. cities. Border patrol agents have taken into custody close to 150 illegal immigrants on the FBI’s Terrorism Watchlist. More than 61,000 individuals have been released into the United States who are labeled as “Special Interest Aliens.”