Terrorist walked into US
A Somali terrorist was allowed into the country and was able to operate freely for almost a year before authorities realized their error and rearrested him.
Republican lawmakers are demanding information from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about what happened to the man — and whether US citizens funded any part of his journey to or stay in the US.
The 27-year-old Somalian — who so far has not been identified by name — was on the watchlist as “a confirmed member of al-Shabaab” involved in the use, manufacture or transportation of explosives or firearms, but a border bungle meant he was released after initially being arrested for crossing into the country illegally in California in March 2023.
A letter from Republican lawmakers seeks to find the al-Shabaab member’s path from illegally crossing the border to Minnesota, where he was eventually rearrested in January, and whether he received any government benefits.
It also seeks to find if he took a commercial flight with US citizens to reach their state and if his travel was funded with taxpayer dollars, according to the Tuesday letter, first obtained by The Post.
“Did the al-Shabbab terrorist travel to Minnesota with the assistance, either direct or indirect of an NGO [Non-Governmental Organization]?” the letter asks. “If so, which NGO was responsible for transporting the individual to Minnesota?”
‘Open-borders agenda’
The terrorist had initially crossed into California and had been arrested by the Border Patrol. However, the Terrorist Screening Center determined he was a “mismatch” to the terror watchlist, leading to his release.
“The Biden administration’s openborders agenda allowed a known terrorist to roam freely throughout our state,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) said in a statement to The Post.