Eight suspected terrorists have been arrested in three major cities in the United States.
NBC News reports the individuals, who are from Tajikistan, are suspected of having ties to ISIS and were arrested in New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
Sources told the outlet the individuals were on the radar of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and that they were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Additionally, all eight of the men entered the U.S. by crossing the southern border.
NBC Notes, “At least two of the men crossed the border in spring 2023, and one of those men used the CBP One app, which the Biden administration created to allow migrants to book appointments to claim asylum, those officials say.”
“The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has been aware of a potential terrorist threat originating in central Europe, and it began monitoring these men as part of that investigation, three sources say,” it added.
A senior U.S. official told NBC law enforcement had been monitoring the group and the suspects’ activities for months.
“While they have not been charged with a terrorist connection or plot yet, the FBI alerted ICE they should be arrested because of potential ties to ISIS, and they were arrested on immigration charges, two sources say,” the outlet reported. “They are detained and face removal proceedings before an immigration judge, and they could later face terrorism-related charges, two sources say.”
In a joint statement, the FBI and the Department of Homeland security said, “Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities.”
“The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the statement added.
One source told CNN officials do not believe the suspects received training abroad or were sent to the U.S. to commit violence.
