NEW YORK, NY – In an unsettling arrest at the U.S. southern border, Basel Bassel Ebbadi, a 22-year-old Lebanese migrant, was arrested by Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas, on March 9 after admitting to plans of bomb-making in New York City and his affiliation with the terrorist group Hezbollah.
Documents revealed by The New York Post show Ebbadi’s confession during interrogation, where he detailed his extensive training in “jihad” and his role in guarding weapon caches for Hezbollah. He stated his training was focused on killing non-Muslims and had been involved with the organization for over a decade.
The incident highlights a concerning trend of individuals on the terror watchlist attempting to enter the US illegally, with 59 such apprehensions reported in the first four months of 2024 alone. This figure marks a significant increase from previous years, underscoring growing security concerns at the border.
Ebbadi’s case has sparked debate over the effectiveness of current migrant vetting processes, especially in the context of his claimed intentions to avoid violence by fleeing Lebanon. This arrest precedes a notable increase in encounters with terror watchlisted individuals, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by border security agencies.