Eight illegal aliens from Tajikistan suspected of having ties to the Islamic State in Central Asia were arrested last weekend in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the suspects had come to the attention of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and were taken into custody by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Officials confirmed that all eight suspects had previously entered the US at the southern border where they underwent criminal background checks and were cleared by immigration officials.
At least two entered the US in the spring of last year. One of them was using the Customs and Border Protect app created by the Biden administration to allow asylum seekers to schedule appointments to pursue their asylum claims.
A senior official confirmed that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was aware of a possible threat from terrorist groups from central Europe and began to monitor the eight men in connection to that investigation. For several months, the FBI kept the men under scrutiny.
Sources told the New York Post that the scrutiny included wiretaps on the suspects which revealed that they were discussing bombs.
So far, the suspects have not been charged with terrorism. However, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force informed Immigration and Customs Enforcement that the men should be arrested for suspected ties to ISIS.
The eight men were arrested on immigration charges and are currently being held pending removal proceedings. Sources confirmed that the men could also face terror-related charges.
In April, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an Uzbek national with suspected ties to ISIS who had been living in the United States for two years.
Jovokhir Attoev, 33, crossed the southern border in February 2022 and was released by Customs and Border Protection on bond. In March 2024, a review of Attoev’s asylum application turned up a May 2023 notice from Uzbekistan which warned of Attoev’s ties to the Islamic State.
