New DHS report finds most US-based extremists radicalized years after entry
A new Department of Homeland Security report obtained by MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Thursday finds that most foreign-born U.S. violent extremists are radicalized “several years after” they enter the country.
“We assess that most foreign-born, U.S.-based violent extremists likely radicalized several years after their entry to the United States … limiting the ability of screening and vetting officials to prevent their entry because of National Security concerns,” read the document, which DHS verified to MSNBC.
The intelligence assessment is titled “Most foreign-born U.S.-based violent extremists radicalized after entering Homeland; opportunities for tailored CVE programs exist” and is dated March 1.
The report could have bearing on President Trump’s stalled executive order on travel from several predominantly Muslim countries and refugees. The order, which was blocked by a federal court and is expected to be replaced by another version, put a temporary halt on citizens of Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Syria from entering the U.S., a temporary pause on all refugees and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. Trump has said the orders are aimed at keeping potential terrorists out of the country.
{mosads}According to MSNBC, the report was prepared by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis in coordination with the State Department, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, National Counterterrorism Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A report from The Associated Press earlier this week said that a draft intelligence assessment from Homeland Security was shot down by the Trump administration.
That assessment found that citizenship is an “unlikely indicator” of terrorism threats to the U.S. but was labeled as “incomplete” by the Homeland Security spokeswoman Gillian Christensen.
“While DHS was asked to draft a comprehensive report on this issue, the document you’re referencing was commentary from a single intelligence source versus an official, robust document with thorough interagency sourcing,” Christensen told the AP. “The … report does not include data from other intelligence community sources. It is incomplete.”
That report was seen as a blow to the Trump administration, which is hoping to put his travel ban on more solid footing with proof of risk from citizens of the seven countries.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.