ICE announces arrests of 171 illegal immigrants in 25 U.S. cities
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Enforcement Operations (ERO) officers have illegally arrested 171 noncitizens who have been charged or convicted of crimes including murder, manslaughter and child assault, officials said. announced.
President Biden’s acting ICE Director, Patrick Rechleitner, acknowledged that the terrorists were allowed to roam freely in the United States for nearly a year after entering the country illegally at the border.
Rechleitner said at a Thursday briefing that the terrorist was arrested within 48 hours of ICE becoming “aware of it.”
Rechleitner confirmed a report in the Daily Caller that federal authorities captured a terrorist who entered the United States illegally through the southern border in March 2023.
However, the terrorist was released to the United States due to “inconsistencies” after his name was placed on a terrorist watch list, the Daily Caller reported.
Democrats deny border crisis, blame lies with Republicans and Trump
Patrick J. Lechleitner, senior official in the capacity of Deputy Director and Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks during a press conference on February 1, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Fox News)
The newspaper said the unnamed terrorist was a member of al-Shabaab and was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month.
A speedboat docks on the San Diego coast and drops off a group of suspected illegal immigrants.
When asked by Jenny Tarr of the Daily Caller how many other terrorists had been arrested inland after crossing the border, Rechleitner declined to answer her question.
US border in El Paso, Texas. (Kelly Laco/Fox News Digital)
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Instead, he referred to the arrest of al-Shabab terrorists.
“I want to commend our officers because within 48 hours of us becoming aware of it, he was arrested and is now in ICE custody,” Rechleitner said. “I think this is an incredible result. It’s a testament to how professional and talented our staff is.”
According to the U.S. State Department, al-Shabab is al-Qaeda’s largest, richest and most dangerous affiliate. The group has killed thousands of people, including Americans, in Somalia and the region.
Fox News Digital has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more information.
