America just got a huge national security wake-up call, and it’s time for Washington to take its finger off the snooze button.
Six Russian nationals suspected to have terror ties to ISIS were arrested in a coordinated sting operation in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia, the New York Post reported.
Two ICE sources confirmed they arrested the six, who hail from Tajikistan, over the last week after the FBI contacted the agency to warn it. Two others who were part of the same group were also arrested after being under surveillance for “several months” by a multi-agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to NBC.
Part of the investigation featured a wiretap which revealed one of the now-arrested individuals was talking about bombs, the sources said.
In the wake of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing, this is especially chilling. How did people with suspected ties to a terrorist organization get into the country?
They had crossed the southern border and initial vetting by federal authorities didn’t turn up any negative information tied to their names, Fox News reported.
At least two of the men had crossed into the US in spring 2023, and one had used the CBP One app to enter, according to NBC’s sources.
Progressives especially insist that our borders be as porous as possible to allow the tired, poor, huddled masses to breathe free and realize the American Dream.
They ignore, at our collective peril, that among the good folks looking for a better life are criminals and would-be terrorists. But to bring up such facts is fearmongering, says the Left’s narrative.
Until it isn’t. And then it’s too late.
In April FBI Director Chris Wray warned lawmakers that a possible “coordinated attack” could take place in the US following an ISIS-K attack on a concert hall in Moscow — carried out by citizens of Tajikistan — that killed 145 people and wounded hundreds more.
Biden in turn “closes” the border, limited the number allowed to cross at 2,500. It’s not just the number of people crossing, it’s who they are and why they’re here.
The House Committee on Homeland Security released a report last December, citing that U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 294 illegal migrants on the terrorist watchlist at the Southwest border between ports of entry since the beginning of FY 2021 — and those are only the individuals Border Patrol agents have caught.
President Biden has no problem with forgiving student loan debts by some $167 billion, money better spent boosting the number of border agents.
Wray told a House Appropriations that “Our most immediate concern has been that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home,”
They’d have plenty of supporters in the anti-Israel, antisemitic American-flag burners turning campuses and other locations around the country into street theaters of hate.
This isn’t the time for boilerplate “we won’t stand for it” statements by our leaders. It’s time for action.
Hire more people to keep America safe, Mr. President. And close the border.
![Editorial cartoon by Gary Varvel (Creators Syndicate)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BHR-Z-CARTOON-01_eb3c2d.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)