The recent arrest of eight Tajik nationals believed to have connections to ISIS has raised apprehensions among national security officials about a potential terror attack on US soil, as indicated by multiple US officials who spoke to CNN. The individuals, who initially entered the US at the southern border and sought asylum under US immigration laws, are suspected of having ties to the now-splintered terror group. Although the men had undergone immigration vetting before being permitted entry into the country, some had previously expressed extremist views in their communications, such as on social media or in private messages monitored by US intelligence.
Following the identification of the Tajik nationals’ connections to ISIS, federal agents and analysts embarked on intense surveillance efforts across the nation, evocative of the post-9/11 era. After a stint of monitoring, senior US officials made the decision to apprehend the men, concerned about the possibility of a potential terror plot. The individuals are currently in federal custody on immigration charges and are expected to be deported after a counterterrorism inquiry.
Particular alarm was raised by the fact that the Tajiks come from Tajikistan, a region known for being a source of recruitment by ISIS-K, the Afghanistan-based affiliate of the terror group. With fears that the men may have been radicalized while in the US, security officials are now on high alert for the threat of lone-wolf attackers, who may pose a different yet significant danger.
The international intelligence community has been grappling with limited surveillance capability following US drawdowns in countries like Afghanistan, where ISIS-K operates, heightening concerns about potential terror threats. ISIS-K has notably focused on online radicalization efforts rather than conventional training and deployment methods, making it harder for authorities to predict and prevent attacks.
The recent arrests also shed light on vulnerabilities at the US southern border, a concern amplified by Republicans in an election year. A report released by the DHS inspector general raised questions about the screening process for asylum seekers and the availability of federal data for vetting noncitizens, warning of the risk of admitting potentially dangerous individuals into the country.
Attention has been specifically focused on immigrants from Central Asian countries, such as Tajikistan, following previous incidents involving nationals from the region with ties to ISIS. US officials have underscored the importance of closely monitoring individuals traveling from countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan in the wake of past security breaches.
While encounters with individuals identified as potential matches with names on the terrorism watch list have increased, US officials caution that this doesn’t necessarily equate to an influx of actual terrorists attempting to enter the country. There can be various reasons for a name appearing on the watch list, ranging from loose connections to known terrorists to simple name similarities. Therefore, continued vigilance and scrutiny are required to mitigate the risk of potential security threats.