In yet another alarming incident at the U.S.-Mexico border, a Lebanese migrant was apprehended while attempting to sneak into the country. What makes this case particularly troubling is that the individual, Basel Bassel Ebbadi, admitted to being a member of the notorious terrorist group Hezbollah and expressed his intention to “make a bomb” once he reached his destination in New York.
According to a report by the New York Post, Ebbadi revealed during interviews with investigators that he had received training from Hezbollah for seven years and had served as an active member tasked with guarding weapons for an additional four years. His training focused on “jihad” and targeting non-Muslim individuals for violence. It is deeply concerning that someone with such extremist ideologies and intentions was able to come so close to entering the United States undetected.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist organization, has been responsible for numerous attacks in Israel, including recent strikes following the Hamas terrorist attack and subsequent invasion of Gaza by Israel. The fact that Ebbadi expressed a desire to leave the group because he “didn’t want to kill people” is hardly reassuring. As he himself admitted, once you become involved with Hezbollah, there is no easy way out.
Thankfully, Ebbadi was apprehended and placed into isolation, while also being referred to the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT) due to his terroristic threats. However, it is disconcerting that border agents have encountered an increasing number of individuals on terror watchlists in recent years. In fiscal 2022 alone, 98 individuals on the watchlist were encountered, a number that jumped to 172 in 2023. And in the first four months of fiscal 2024, border agents have already come across 59 such individuals.
This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for stronger border security measures. The Biden administration and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas must be held accountable for the chaos at the border and the failure to effectively address this growing security threat. House Republicans have rightly pointed out the administration’s negligence in this regard.
Meanwhile, data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that border encounters in fiscal 2024 continue to reach record highs. In December alone, there were nearly 302,000 encounters, a staggering increase compared to the previous year. This is a clear indication that the situation at the border is worsening, and immediate action is required to regain control.
It is imperative that we prioritize the security and well-being of American citizens. The safety of our nation should never be compromised, and it is high time for the Biden administration to take decisive action to protect our borders and prevent dangerous individuals like Ebbadi from gaining entry into the United States. Failure to do so will only perpetuate the chaos and jeopardize the safety of our communities.
