An Afghan national on the federal Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS) was apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California.
The TSDA is the federal government’s database that includes sensitive information about terrorist identities. It originated as a consolidated terrorist watch list “to house information on known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) but has evolved over the last decade to include additional individuals who represent a potential threat to the United States, including known affiliates of watch listed individuals,” CBP states.
The Afghan national apprehended in California was identified after a fingerprint scan showed he was in the TSDA. Information about his identification hasn’t been released.
In January, The Center Square reported on 38 known or suspected terrorists apprehended in the first three months of fiscal 2023 and in March, newly reported CBP data showed the number was nearly 10 times greater.
Data as of May 15 shows the number of foreign nationals believed to be known or suspected terrorists illegally entering the U.S. is even highe
