In a plot twist that sounds like it’s straight out of a spy movie, but with the screenplay seemingly written by bureaucrats rather than Hollywood’s finest, an alleged ISIS member was reportedly milling about in the U.S. for two whole years. Yes, you read that right. And how did he find himself strolling through the land of the free, you ask? Courtesy of the Biden administration’s release policies, if you can believe it.
This isn’t your garden-variety immigration story where someone is seeking the American dream, folks. We’re talking about Jovokhir Attoev from Uzbekistan, who didn’t come to the U.S. to bask in the glory of the American way of life. Instead, after crossing the Arizona border in February 2022 and being picked up by Border Patrol, he claimed he was an asylum seeker. Now, in any sensible system, you’d expect a thorough background check to be conducted, especially given the circumstances. But no. Officials couldn’t find any “derogatory information” on him, so they just released him into the U.S. with a court date. You can’t make this stuff up.
Fast forward to May 2023, Uzbekistan decided to send out an international notice revealing Mr. Attoev was wanted in his homeland for his alleged ties to ISIS. Yet, it wasn’t until almost a year later, as the U.S. government was reviewing his application for asylum, that they connected the dots and realized they had an alleged terrorist living in Maryland. Two weeks ago, ICE finally arrested him, and now he sits in jail awaiting trial in immigration court.
The case highlights a glaring issue within the U.S. immigration and asylum system — the dangerously slow pace at which authorities follow up on those who have already crossed into the U.S., often illegally. It’s a system that seems more focused on processing paperwork than ensuring the safety and security of American citizens.
ICE’s recent arrest of another terrorist, Mohammad Kharwin, who roamed the U.S. freely for a year after illegally entering through the southern border, only adds fuel to the fire. Kharwin, a member of Hezb-e-Islami or HIG, a terrorist organization responsible for killing multiple American soldiers in Afghanistan, was eventually nabbed, but not before enjoying a year of freedom in the U.S.
These incidents raise important questions about the efficacy of the current immigration system and the Biden administration’s handling of potential threats entering the country. While the pursuit of a fair and humane immigration policy is commendable, one cannot help but wonder if the pendulum has swung too far, prioritizing expedience over the nation’s security.
It’s high time for a thorough review and overhaul of the immigration and asylum procedures to prevent similar cases in the future. The safety of the American people should always be the top priority, and letting alleged terrorists roam free for years due to bureaucratic oversight is, frankly, unacceptable.
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