Eight suspected Islamic State associates from Tajikistan were taken into custody by federal authorities in recent days, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Sources told the news outlet on Tuesday that arrests took place in Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia by agents from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after observing the group for several months.
The suspects are reportedly being held for immigration violations, as they are accused of entering the United States illegally through the southern border. All of the detained apparently passed the government screening process without their alleged terrorist connections being discovered.
NBC News reported that one of the individuals used the CBP One app to gain entry, suggesting that he has an active asylum claim open.
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told a Congressional hearing that he was “concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border.”
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