Admitted terror member to be deported after entering US illegally
An illegal immigrant from Lebanon who confessed to being a member of the Hezbollah terrorist network is set to be deported a year after being apprehended and released into the country during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, was detained by border agents in El Paso, Texas, on March 9, 2024, and promptly placed in federal custody. He disclosed to investigators that he intended to travel to New York to construct a bomb and that his training with the Iran-backed terror organization focused on “jihad” and “killing non-Muslims.”
Ebbadi reportedly expressed a desire to leave the group as he “didn’t want to take lives,” although he acknowledged the difficulty of severing ties with the organization once involved.
Despite his statements, Ebbadi was isolated and referred to the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT) after allegedly making threats to personnel.
Following his illegal entry into the United States, Ebbadi was convicted of unlawful entry and sentenced to five months in federal prison on April 26, as reported by the New York Post.
On January 13, an immigration judge ordered his deportation after serving his sentence. Ebbadi claimed that his documents were stolen in Costa Rica during his journey to the U.S.
Under the Biden administration, border authorities released 400 suspected terrorists who crossed the southern border illegally. In January 2024, ICE arrested a member of the Somali al-Shabaab terrorist group who had entered the country unlawfully and evaded capture for almost a year before being apprehended in Minnesota.
As part of efforts to fortify border security, the Trump administration ceased the practice of catch-and-release, which allowed numerous illegal immigrants to enter the country while Biden was in office. This move aimed to prevent individuals like Ebbadi from exploiting the system and endangering national security.
The case of Basel Bassel Ebbadi underscores the importance of robust border enforcement policies to safeguard the nation against potential threats posed by individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations.
