(NewsWorthy.news) – An illegal immigrant from Lebanon who has suspected ties to known terrorist groups was apprehended by Border Patrol agents after crossing the southern border near El Paso, Texas on March 9.
Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, was asked about his reasons for entering the country. Ebbadi replied that he was heading to New York and planned to build a bomb. He admitted in a sworn interview that he trained for seven years with Hezbollah and that he was an active member of the organization, guarding weapons locations for four years after his training. The U.S. designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization in October 1997 and the designation remains today.
Ebbadi revealed that his training focused heavily on Jihad and attacks on non-Muslims but claimed that he fled the country because he did not want to kill people. He explained how difficult it was to leave the organization once inside, according to the ICE documents.
On why he arrived at the U.S. border without any documentation, he claimed that he lost his papers when he was robbed at knifepoint in Costa Rica. An investigation has been launched by federal law enforcement officials. US Customs and Border Protection would not share any details in a statement, but stressed that if an individual poses a threat to public safety and national security, they will be denied entry and detained, removed, or referred to other federal agencies for investigation.
In the 2022 fiscal year, Border Patrol agents apprehended 98 people on the terrorist watchlist at both the southern and northern borders. During fiscal year 2023, 172 were apprehended, and 59 were apprehended in the 2024 fiscal year. Only 30 people on the terror watchlist were apprehended between 2017 and 2021 under Donald Trump’s administration. The criteria for appearing on the list was expanded after 2021, but details have not been publicly disclosed.
Ebbadi also confessed to falsifying his date of birth and name to officials. After being detained in isolation at the El Paso Hardened Facility, he was interviewed by the Tactical Terrorism Response Team. Ebbadi has reportedly been marked for deportation from the U.S., but which country he will be sent to is unclear.
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