Russian national with alleged Al Qaeda ties arrested by ICE agents in Philadelphia

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Philadelphia have arrested a Russian national accused of being a member of Al Qaeda. 

The 39-year-old man detained on May 23 was born in Tajikistan and is a fugitive who is wanted overseas, ICE announced this week. 

“Arresting individuals linked to terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguard the homeland,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane said in a statement. 

“Through close collaboration with our outstanding partners at the FBI, we have taken decisive action to make our communities safer and prevent potential threats to the American people,” he added. 

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ICE said the man was first detained at the San Ysidro Pedestrian West point of entry in California in March 2023 and “charged as an inadmissible alien under the Immigration and Nationality Act because he didn’t have an immigrant visa.” 

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The Russian national was first encountered at the San Ysidro Pedestrian West point of entry in California on Mar. 21, 2023, ICE said. (ICE)

“He was served a notice to appear before an immigration judge and paroled into the United States,” according to ICE. 

Then this month, officials in Tajikistan declared the man a fugitive. 

ICE conducted a worksite raid at a car wash in Philadelphia in January, arresting seven illegal immigrants, with six being from Mexico and one from the Dominican Republic. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

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“It is alleged that he is or was a member of Al-Qaeda,” ICE said. “After his arrest, this individual was detained in ICE custody, where he will remain pending removal from the U.S.”