Trump’s statement
Former President Trump has accused President Biden of providing “material support” to the eight people arrested in the United States who are suspected of having ties to the Islamic State.
“In addition to all of his other well-documented offenses, crooked Joe Biden is now also guilty of providing material support for terrorism,” Trump said at his birthday event in Florida on Friday, where he spent considerable time discussing his Democratic opponent.
Trump claimed that under Biden’s leadership, “there’s been a 3,000 percent increase” in the number of people on the country’s terror watch list, and that they are crossing into the United States from the southern border.
“Our country is going to pay a steep price for many, many years,” Trump said, as highlighted by Mediaite.
“This is a terrible thing that’s happened.”
What is Trump talking about?
On Wednesday, reports emerged that several individuals from Tajikistan with alleged ties to ISIS had been arrested in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
The eight individuals reportedly entered the U.S. through the southern border last spring and passed through the government’s screening process.
They crossed the border without proper documents and were released into the U.S. with notices to appear in immigration court.
Law enforcement later became concerned about their presence and began tracking them.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force monitored the individuals and collaborated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make the arrests.
The suspects are currently not in detention and face deportation proceedings, although deportation to Tajikistan is reportedly difficult due to operational and diplomatic reasons.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrests of these “non-citizens” and noted that the U.S. has been in a “heightened threat environment.”
In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated that the U.S. is facing more threats from violent extremists, particularly following the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
He expressed concern about individuals exploiting vulnerabilities at the southern border shared with Mexico.
Where does this leave us?
There are no indications Joe Biden has any plans to close up the border more than he has said in the past.
Americans should take the warnings of Christopher Wray seriously, then.
Stay tuned to the Fairview Gazette.
