In a startling revelation, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that nearly 600 individuals with ties to terrorist organizations were granted asylum in the United States during the previous administration. This disclosure emerged during a cabinet meeting on April 30, 2025, where Gabbard informed President Donald Trump of the findings following his designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Gabbard stated that the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) identified approximately 600 individuals with connections to terrorist groups who entered the U.S. illegally, claimed asylum, and were subsequently paroled into the country. Additionally, she reported the discovery of 700 alien terrorists affiliated with MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the Sinaloa cartel.
In response to these findings, the Trump administration has intensified efforts to dismantle such networks. Homeland Security Investigations recently apprehended a Venezuelan national, identified as a leader of Tren de Aragua, in Los Angeles. The individual was found with a cache of grenades and had been using a false identity. Furthermore, federal law enforcement agencies conducted a raid on an underground nightclub in Colorado, arresting over 100 individuals linked to the same cartel.
These developments underscore the administration’s commitment to national security and the rigorous vetting of asylum seekers to prevent the entry of individuals with terrorist affiliations.
