National security experts are raising alarms about “dangerous intelligence sources” linked to “jihad”-style terrorist activities on American soil. This follows the Justice Department’s announcement of charges against Iraqi militia leaders for orchestrating terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and leader of the Iranian-backed group Kataib Hezbollah, has been accused of coordinating nearly 20 terrorist attacks in Europe and plotting assaults on Jewish facilities. Furthermore, authorities indicated that al-Saadi made public threats against President Donald Trump and his family.
Laura Reese, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation, shared her concerns in an interview. She highlighted that inadequate vetting of supposed allies in Iraq and Afghanistan, paired with a lenient social welfare system, has made the U.S. more susceptible to terrorism. “It’s not just that our borders are open,” she said. “There are numerous ways for people to immigrate here, and unfortunately, many resort to fraud to access these benefits.”
She also noted that factors like common jihadists and millions of deportable individuals in the country contribute to a significant risk. “Al-Saadi is encouraging others to engage in jihad, and sadly, there are many ready to act on that call,” she added. Reese pointed out that the U.S. intelligence community’s assessments for this year and 2025 address Iran’s long history of using proxy networks to conduct attacks against the U.S.
Last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended 11 Iranians illegally residing in the country, including individuals with ties to Hezbollah and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. One of these, Asif Merchant, was identified as a trained operative and was recently convicted of murder-for-hire and attempted terrorism.
According to Reese, the implications are clear: “We must assume there are more operatives already in the country.” She further criticized the ongoing open borders policy under the Biden administration, emphasizing the prevalence of fraud linked to immigration benefits. “There’s asylum fraud, marriage fraud, H-1B fraud—it’s a complex web,” she said.
Reese mentioned the challenges in properly vetting individuals who assisted U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing that while they deserve protection, not all should be granted entry. “It’s a delicate matter; bringing everyone here isn’t going to solve the underlying issues.”
She expressed that the current immigration system has become “unwieldy and unmanageable,” leading to various risks, including national security concerns. “We need to closely scrutinize the immigration benefits offered and be very selective,” she underscored, pointing out that, during the Biden administration, people from 180 countries have immigrated to the U.S.
Reese concluded by highlighting the dangers that al-Saadi’s case presents, indicating that connections to individuals with similar beliefs can easily transcend borders. “ICE has significant work ahead to prioritize addressing terrorist threats and carry out mass deportations,” she remarked.
