CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector arrested two Yemeni men within the last 2 months that were identified on a terrorism watch list.

The first incident occurred on January 29, at approximately 1:10 a.m., when agents assigned to the El Centro Station arrested a man for illegally entering the United States. Agents apprehended the man approximately three miles west of the Calexico Port of Entry and transported him to the El Centro Processing Center for immigration and criminal history screening.

Agents conducted records checks, which revealed that the man, a 33-year-old illegal alien from Yemen, was on the FBI’s Terrorism Watch List as well as on the No-Fly list.

Additionally, agents found a cellular phone sim card hidden underneath the insole of his shoe.

The man was transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The second incident occurred on March 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m., when agents assigned to the El Centro Station arrested a man for illegally entering the United States. Agents apprehended the man approximately two miles west of the Calexico Port of Entry and transported him to the El Centro Processing Center for immigration and criminal history screening.

Agents conducted records checks, which revealed that the man, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Yemen, was also on the FBI’s Terrorism Watch List and on the No-Fly list.

The man is being held in federal custody pending removal.

“Part of the Border Patrol’s mission states we will protect the country from terrorists,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino. “Today, like every other day, our agents did that. These apprehensions at our border illustrates the importance of our mission and how we can never stop being vigilant in our everyday mission to protect this great country.”

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AlertsUSA has been warning about this very situation for months. The halt of border wall construction, reinstatement of "Catch and Release," as well as reduction of interior enforcement sends a strong message to those outside of the U.S. who would do us harm. These downgrades to the nation's multi-layered security apparatus and architecture is extremely dangerous.

Note that it is very rare for someone encountered by a Border Patrol agent or a customs officer to be found on the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB).  According to the FBI, those on TSDB are "known to be or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activities."

Subscribers are reminded that in mid-March, Customs and Border Protection agency reported to Congress that four people arrested at the southern border since Oct. 1 match names on the TSDB. Three of the people arrested were from Yemen and one was from Serbia. 

Subscribers are further reminded that Yemen is the home of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). It is considered the most active and dangerous of al-Qaeda's branches that emerged after the weakening of central leadership. 

Attacks on U.S. interests claimed by or directly attributed to AQAP include:

Sept 2008 - Attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen
Oct 2010 - Transatlantic aircraft parcel bomb plot
May 2012 - Failed attempt down NW Airlines Flight 253 over Detroit 
Dec 2019 - Attack on Naval Air Station Pensacola