NYC Arrests Illegal Alien Linked to Terrorism After U.S. Release

An illegal alien and suspected terrorist from South Africa, Umar Farooq Ashraf, was apprehended in New York City three months after federal authorities released him into the country. Despite being flagged as a “spouse or child of a known or suspected terrorist” by the Terrorist Screening Center, Ashraf was allowed to enter the United States after being detained at the southern border.

Ashraf, 18, was initially apprehended in September by the Texas Department of Public Safety near Normandy, Texas. After the agency identified his ties to terrorism, he was handed over to federal authorities. Instead of being detained, Ashraf was inexplicably released into the country.

Federal agents, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), later tracked him down to a Brooklyn apartment in a multi-agency operation.

“A further subsequent investigation revealed a positive match on the terrorist watchlist, prompting swift action by USBP agents and personnel at the National Targeting Center,” Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said in a statement.

One Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official called the release a “major lapse in intelligence,” describing Ashraf as a “real deal” terrorist “without a doubt.” The incident highlights significant flaws in the federal government’s ability to vet and detain individuals with ties to terrorism.

This alarming failure comes as U.S. border policies continue to allow an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants to enter the country. Such lapses endanger national security, with the Ashraf case serving as a stark example of the consequences of inadequate screening processes.

Ashraf’s arrest follows another troubling incident earlier this month in the Bronx, where federal and local law enforcement arrested seven illegal aliens tied to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Authorities tracked the suspects to a residence near Crotona Park after monitoring one of the individuals who was wearing an ankle monitor.

These arrests highlight a growing pattern of criminals and suspected terrorists entering the U.S. through the southern border, underscoring the risks posed by lax immigration policies.

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to address these failures with the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. He has selected former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan as his border czar, promising swift and decisive action to restore control over the nation’s borders and prevent future lapses in security.

America’s safety is at stake, and the Ashraf case is a stark reminder of the need for strong leadership and comprehensive immigration reform.

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