Trump deportation effort leads to 655% spike in terrorist arrests since Jan 20: DHS

The Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations have resulted in more than 200 arrests of known or alleged terrorists since January 20. This marks a 655 percent increase in terrorist captures from the same period the year prior, according to Homeland Security data obtained by the New York Post. Among those arrested was Harpreet Singh, a citizen of India who has been accused of being the mastermind behind a grenade terror attack targeting a police officer in India.

Singh, who is one of India's "most wanted" men, roamed the United States for roughly three years before he was captured by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and FBI agents on April 16 in Sacramento, California. Singh unlawfully entered the US on January 27, 2022, by crossing into Arizona from Mexico. He was initially captured by Biden's Border Patrol agents but was swiftly released and given a future court date, a DHS official told the Post.

"The Biden administration not only let a wanted terrorist into our country, but after he was arrested by Border Patrol agents, they released him into the interior of our country," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "While shocking, it's not surprising given the Biden administration routinely released unvetted terrorists and criminals into American communities."

Singh has been accused by his home country of providing terrorist funds, recruitment, and planning a grenade attack on an Indian Police Station and the home of a retired police officer with the intent to kill and instill fear, DHS told the paper. Indian officials claim Singh is a senior operative linked to Harwinder Singh Rinda, a leader of the US-designated foreign terrorist organization Pakistan-based Babbar Khasla International (BKI). The BKI is a religious extremist group that has been involved in political assassinations, armed attacks, and bombings, per the DHS.

Singh is also wanted for multiple violent extortion and threatening operations in India. "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem's leadership, ICE is unleashed to remove these violent criminals from America's streets and put an end to catch and release," said McLaughin. At least 219 known or suspected foreign terrorists have been captured in the US since January 20, according to DHS.

The FBI said in a statement announcing his arrest that he "had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications." Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.