Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Tajikistan-born Russian national suspected of being affiliated with Al-Qaeda. The 39-year-old male was taken into custody in Philadelphia on May 23 after entering the U.S. through the southern border in March 2023 during the Biden administration.
Federal authorities confirmed the suspect initially crossed into the U.S. via the San Ysidro Pedestrian West entry point in California. At the time, he was charged as an inadmissible alien and issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge. Despite that status, he remained in the U.S. for over a year until his recent arrest.
ICE officials revealed that earlier this month, Tajikistan declared the man a fugitive and identified him as an alleged member of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda. The suspect was taken into custody in coordination with the FBI and remains detained while awaiting removal from the United States.
“Arresting individuals linked to terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguard the homeland,” said ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “Through close collaboration with our outstanding partners at the FBI, we have taken decisive action to make our communities safer and prevent potential threats to the American people.”
McShane praised the teamwork between ICE and the FBI, crediting their “tireless efforts and steadfast resolve” in protecting the country.
This arrest comes just weeks after a separate terrorist incident in Boulder, Colorado, where an illegal immigrant from Egypt was charged with attempted murder for using Molotov cocktails against pro-Israel demonstrators. That case, too, has fueled growing concerns about national security and the consequences of lax border enforcement.
The suspect will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.
