“3 out of 4 (or 402 out of 549) individuals convicted of international terrorism and terrorism-related offenses between 9/11 and Dec. 31, 2016 were foreign-born”
According to a DOJ and DHS report, 3 out of 4 (or 402 out of 549) individuals convicted of international terrorism and terrorism-related offenses between 9/11 and Dec. 31, 2016 were foreign-born.
By citizenship status at the time of their respective convictions:
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- 254 were not U.S. citizens
- 148 were foreign-born, naturalized and received U.S. citizenship
- 147 were U.S. citizens by birth
According to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, these numbers are “only the tip of the iceberg: we currently have terrorism-related investigations against thousands of people in the United States, including hundreds of people who came here as refugees.”
During that same period, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed approximately 1,716 alien due to national security concerns. According to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, these numbers are “only the tip of the iceberg: we currently have terrorism-related investigations against thousands of people in the United States, including hundreds of people who came here as refugees.”
The report additionally reveals that in just 2017, the DHS had 2,554 with individuals on the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database traveling TO the U.S.
- 335 were attempting to enter by land
- 2,170 by air
- 49 by sea
In a Department of Justice press release for the report, Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen has called for a “post-9/11”-minded immigration policy.
Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen has called for a “post-9/11”-minded immigration policy.
This report was required by Section 11 of President Trump’s Executive Order, 13780, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.
While the sample size of convicted terrorists (or those convicted of terrorism-related offenses) is miniscule compared to the “foreign-born” population in the United States, it may spell trouble for Capitol Hill Democrats in the ongoing immigration fight over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), who have so far been resistant to a “clean” bill extending the program for current individuals or other efforts to end chain migration and diversity visa programs.
It should also be taken seriously by Washington given the upward tick in homegrown radicalization marked by the increase in investigations referenced by the Attorney General. Attempting to reduce these numbers through targeted immigration reform (scalpel not bludgeon) could help prevent that one potential terrorist from killing many. At the same time, finding the balance between punishing a group by ethnicity or religion relies on doing so smartly and with not only increased border security but increased vetting procedures in addition to national security-minded improvements to U.S. immigration policy.
Some will no doubt dismiss this report as “proof” of “racism” by the Trump administration when it should be received as a hard truth that should not be ignored but compassionately and firmly dealt with—not politicized—in order to secure Americans, and those who aspire to become Americans, regardless of race or religion.
