Biden admin halts release of Tajikistan migrants into US over terrorism fears after hundreds already let in

A record number of illegal immigrants from Tajikistan have entered the United States and been released by border patrol so far this year, despite the fact that the nation is known to be a recruitment hotbed for the Islamic State.

Last month, it was revealed that at least one of a group of eight suspected Tajik terrorists arrested in cities across the US had illegally crossed the border and been released this year. But only after hundreds of Tajiks have been allowed into the country has the Biden administration decided to take action to prevent potential terrorists from carrying out attacks on American soil.

In recent weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have received orders to hold illegal immigrants from Tajikistan and only release them after they've been properly interviewed by intelligence officials. 

As the New York Post reported, between 2020 and 2024, just over 1,500 people from Tajikistan attempted to enter the US illegally. In the first six months of this year, 500 have been apprehended at the border. 

This fact has led some, including former acting ICE director Tom Homan, to question whether the Biden administration's crackdown is too little, too late.

It seems like the damage is already done," Homan told the Post. "I appreciate they're trying to do what they can after the fact. The bottom line is, if they would turn on the Trump policies, secure the border, end catch and release, they'd be a hell of a lot safer."

According to the outlet, Tajikistan has also been added to the US list of "heightened threat level countries," due to the prevalence of ISIS and ISIS-K recruitment there. Members of the latter group have carried out numerous attacks, including the deadly concert attack in Moscow that killed at least 137 people. Officials have struggled to properly vet those from the nation due to a lack of proper documentation.