Two refugees arrested for terrorism charges in U.S

[mikeakanice]

(CNN)Federal authorities arrested two refugees on terror-related charges Thursday.

The arrests in Sacramento, California, and Houston did not appear to be directly related, but the cases had several similarities.

Both men were Palestinians born in Iraq and living as refugees in the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department. And both of them are accused of lying to immigration officials about their alleged ties to terrorist organizations.

Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, of Houston, is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, of Sacramento is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism.

It was not immediately clear whether Hardan or Jayab had retained legal representation. They are both scheduled to appear in court Friday.

The two cases come as some Americans worry that terrorists could enter the United States posing as refugees from war-torn nations.

That concern was amplified after the Paris terror attacks in November. ISIS claimed responsibility for those coordinated attacks on a concert hall, bars, restaurants and a sports stadium that killed 130 people.

After news of Hardan's and Jayab's arrests Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican presidential candidate, reiterated his views that the United States should not accept refugees from Syria and called for a "systematic and careful retroactive assessment" to determine whether or not refugees already in the United States have ties to terrorists.

"I commend the law enforcement for apprehending these two individuals, but their apprehensions raise the immediate question: Who else is there? What are they planning next?" Cruz said.

Cruz ties arrests to Obama's refugee policy

Texas man aimed to support ISIS, indictment alleges
Hardan entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in November 2009 and was granted legal permanent resident status in August 2011, the Justice Department said.

In addition to the charge of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, he's charged with procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday alleges he attempted to provide material support and resources, including training, expert advice and assistance, to ISIS. The indictment does not provide details about the evidence behind the allegations.

The indictment also alleges he lied in his citizenship application, saying he had no ties to a terrorist organization when he'd associated with members and sympathizers of ISIS throughout 2014, according to the Justice Department.

If convicted, Hardan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Complaint: Social media posts revealed terror ties
Jayab entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in October 2012, the Justice Department said.

According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Jayab exchanged messages on social media in 2012 and 2013, saying he planned to go to Syria to fight.

In November 2013, the complaint alleges, he flew from Chicago to Turkey, then traveled to Syria. Between November 2013 and January 2014, he "allegedly reported on social media that he was in Syria fighting with various terror organizations, including Ansar al-Islam," officials said.

Asked about his travel in an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Jayab allegedly said he had traveled to Turkey to visit his grandmother and denied he had been a member of any rebel group or militia.

In a written statement, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said there were no signs that Jayab was involved in any U.S. terror plots.

"While he represented a potential safety threat, there is no indication that he planned any acts of terrorism in this country," Wagner said.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

CNN's Jason Morris and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/us/ter...rges-refugees/

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Kind of scary. I'm sure this is going to bring up a firestorm about refugees and background checks.

[Theinquisition]

(CNN)Federal authorities arrested two refugees on terror-related charges Thursday.

The arrests in Sacramento, California, and Houston did not appear to be directly related, but the cases had several similarities.

Both men were Palestinians born in Iraq and living as refugees in the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department. And both of them are accused of lying to immigration officials about their alleged ties to terrorist organizations.

Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, of Houston, is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, of Sacramento is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism.

It was not immediately clear whether Hardan or Jayab had retained legal representation. They are both scheduled to appear in court Friday.

The two cases come as some Americans worry that terrorists could enter the United States posing as refugees from war-torn nations.

That concern was amplified after the Paris terror attacks in November. ISIS claimed responsibility for those coordinated attacks on a concert hall, bars, restaurants and a sports stadium that killed 130 people.

After news of Hardan's and Jayab's arrests Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican presidential candidate, reiterated his views that the United States should not accept refugees from Syria and called for a "systematic and careful retroactive assessment" to determine whether or not refugees already in the United States have ties to terrorists.

"I commend the law enforcement for apprehending these two individuals, but their apprehensions raise the immediate question: Who else is there? What are they planning next?" Cruz said.

Cruz ties arrests to Obama's refugee policy

Texas man aimed to support ISIS, indictment alleges
Hardan entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in November 2009 and was granted legal permanent resident status in August 2011, the Justice Department said.

In addition to the charge of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, he's charged with procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday alleges he attempted to provide material support and resources, including training, expert advice and assistance, to ISIS. The indictment does not provide details about the evidence behind the allegations.

The indictment also alleges he lied in his citizenship application, saying he had no ties to a terrorist organization when he'd associated with members and sympathizers of ISIS throughout 2014, according to the Justice Department.

If convicted, Hardan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Complaint: Social media posts revealed terror ties
Jayab entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in October 2012, the Justice Department said.

According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Jayab exchanged messages on social media in 2012 and 2013, saying he planned to go to Syria to fight.

In November 2013, the complaint alleges, he flew from Chicago to Turkey, then traveled to Syria. Between November 2013 and January 2014, he "allegedly reported on social media that he was in Syria fighting with various terror organizations, including Ansar al-Islam," officials said.

Asked about his travel in an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Jayab allegedly said he had traveled to Turkey to visit his grandmother and denied he had been a member of any rebel group or militia.

In a written statement, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said there were no signs that Jayab was involved in any U.S. terror plots.

"While he represented a potential safety threat, there is no indication that he planned any acts of terrorism in this country," Wagner said.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

CNN's Jason Morris and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/us/ter...rges-refugees/

-----
Kind of scary. I'm sure this is going to bring up a firestorm about refugees and background checks.

Imagine the ones that are out there and haven't been caught yet.

[Rixis]

Imagine the ones that are out there and haven't been caught yet.

Imagine if you'd just posted and not quoted a rather large post directly above your own.

(aimed at the thread not you specifically) I haven't kept up with it recently but did they arrest those terrorists who took over that federal building yet?

Did he actually go to Syria then?

The whole

Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, of Sacramento is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism.

looks a bit iffy, they're not charging him for the going over and fighting shit or being an associate etc, but for lying to them?

[Daedius]

And this is shocking how exactly?

About 80+% of the "refugees" are young males... and the vast majority of them never had a background check prior to being allowed into countries.

Suffice to say, I'd imagine the shit will be hitting the fan in a few years time... courtesy of countries being 'nice', all the while terrorists took complete advantage of it.

[GodlyBob]

Time to cut all ties with the outside world because of fear. That'll show those terrorists who's boss! This is the exact opposite of what they want us to feel.

[Kraenen]

The usual response to this is "I'm all for a better vetting process", well okay. What's your better process?

- - - Updated - - -

Time to cut all ties with the outside world because of fear. That'll show those terrorists whose boss! This is the opposite of what they want us to feel.

Not sure who even remotely suggested this. No one has suggested cutting ties with China, Japan, Australia, Canada, England, France, etc... Only... gasp dangerous places which are hotbeds for terrorists.

[GodlyBob]

The usual response to this is "I'm all for a better vetting process", well okay. What's your better process?

- - - Updated - - -



Not sure who even remotely suggested this. No one has suggested cutting ties with China, Japan, Australia, Canada, England, France, etc... Only... gasp dangerous places which are hotbeds for terrorists.

Exactly what I mean. They're scary over there and pose a real and immediate threat to our well being and should be dealt with in a manner reflecting the true measure of that danger. Its not like they would encourage us to feel afraid; they're terrorists, not pundits. What do they get out of making us fear terror?

[Kraenen]

Exactly what I mean. They're scary over there and pose a real and immediate threat to our well being and should be dealt with in a manner reflecting the true measure of that danger. Its not like they would encourage us to feel afraid; they're terrorists, not pundits. What do they get out of making us fear terror?

Yes, they do pose a threat if we bring them in. That's sort of the point of this thread anyways.

[xuros]

Imagine if you'd just posted and not quoted a rather large post directly above your own.

(aimed at the thread not you specifically) I haven't kept up with it recently but did they arrest those terrorists who took over that federal building yet?

Did he actually go to Syria then?

The whole looks a bit iffy, they're not charging him for the going over and fighting shit or being an associate etc, but for lying to them?

Has anyone been shot or hurt in Oregon? Not sure how much terror they have instilled. Unlike those black terrorists in Ferguson that shot at cops and burned family owned companies down to the ground.

[GodlyBob]

Yes, they do pose a threat if we bring them in. That's sort of the point of this thread anyways.

I'm in complete agreement, and I don't appreciate your tone. ISIS had enough funds to get thousands if not hundreds of thousands of men through our porous immigration system with armaments and know-how to evade local and federal authorities and cause thousands of casualties on American soil in the space of just weeks in a coordinated assault. That is the face of refugees. Sure, not all are bad, but 2 out of... however many we have here now is a clear enough statistic that none should be trusted.

[Merkava]

The usual response to this is "I'm all for a better vetting process", well okay. What's your better process?
.

I would say suspending acceptance of people from countries that we have no diplomatic relations with would be a good starting point.

[ringpriest]

Imagine the ones that are out there and haven't been caught yet.

Like Y'all Qaeda?



Why haven't they been arrested? I guess the FBI is so busy setting-up mentally-ill people with darker skin (the FBI literally drove him to WalMart and bought his "terror machete" for him) that it just doesn't have the manpower to bother doing anything about actual armed insurrection by a bunch of white guys (who are themselves dumber than a sack of hammers, I might add). Personally, I'm far more worried about milita idiots than I am about FBI-manufactured plots. (New York Times: "Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I.", The Guardian: "Government agents 'directly involved' in most high-profile US terror plots")

[Wells]

They tried to cheat the system, were briefly successful, then got arrested. Not seeing any kind of serious system failure here.

[Cthulhu 2020]

And this is shocking how exactly?

About 80+% of the "refugees" are young males... and the vast majority of them never had a background check prior to being allowed into countries.

Suffice to say, I'd imagine the shit will be hitting the fan in a few years time... courtesy of countries being 'nice', all the while terrorists took complete advantage of it.

Two suspected terrorists arrested, clearly there are tousands more. Better stock up on guns ammo and food boys.

[warzerotwo]

And this is shocking how exactly?

About 80+% of the "refugees" are young males... and the vast majority of them never had a background check prior to being allowed into countries.

Suffice to say, I'd imagine the shit will be hitting the fan in a few years time... courtesy of countries being 'nice', all the while terrorists took complete advantage of it.

So what's it like living in constant, cringing fear?

[Doctor Amadeus]

Yeah, anybody unsure if whether we are at war concerning ideas, should take a closer look, not only at post like this, but many posted the last few days, I am totally expecting the M&M's analogy to be used in this thread.

Yes, bad people are going to try to get into the U.S and possibly attack us, not all that too unlike many people who are here already. The point being that in life there is always risk, and this is why we have the agencies we have, to deal with these kinds of threats whenever and wherever they are presented. As in this case obviously they work and it's working.

[TirielWoW]

The whole looks a bit iffy, they're not charging him for the going over and fighting shit or being an associate etc, but for lying to them?

They most likely have more information, but have another investigation running at the moment. Whatever they charge him with, they have to provide evidence - evidence that could possibly jeopardize another investigation. When the information won't harm other investigations, you can expect more charges.

[Independent voter]

I don't know if them lying about their past means they were going to launch a terrorist attack. The two probably thought that if they told the truth about supporting terrorist organizations they would've been kicked out of the US.

What you support at 18 might be different from what you support at 22.

[Daethz]

Obviously this means we need to let in as many middle eastern refugees as we possibly can!

[Daedius]

So what's it like living in constant, cringing fear?

I ain't the one living in fear, I just look forward to all this shit biting the PC morons in the ass in a few years time.