United States Border Patrol (USPB) Chief Jason Owens confirmed Tuesday on social media that the agency arrested a South African national “suspected of terror” in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In a post to X, Owens said USPB agents arrested the unidentified South African national. Owens also posted a picture of the male suspect. According to the USBP chief, the illegal immigrant had originally been detained in Texas for criminal trespassing but was released due to the “information available at the time.”

“A further subsequent investigation revealed a positive match on the terrorist watchlist, prompting swift action by USBP agents and personnel at the National Targeting Center. Thanks to the coordination of multiple agencies, this potential threat was located, taken into custody, and is now pending removal,” Owens wrote.

In August, it was estimated that at least 99 individuals on the U.S. terrorist watchlist had been released into the country under the Biden-Harris administration after crossing illegally through the U.S. southern border, according to a congressional report. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2023 USBP agents encountered more than 250 illegal migrants on the terrorist watchlist on the southern border, however, the Department of Homeland Security later released nearly 100 of those individuals into the country, the report said.

Concerns of illegal immigrants crossing through the southern border and into the U.S. began to surface last year as there have been record high encounters of immigrants crossing during the Biden-Harris administration. The House Judiciary Committee has confirmed that USBP agents have encountered foreign nationals on the terror watchlist from 36 different countries.

Authorities have yet to release further information on the South African national.

Hailey Gomez
December 17, 2024

Featured Image Credit: US Customs and Border Patrol

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