Goodlatte Statement on DOJ Charging Six People with Aiding Terrorist Organizations
February 7, 2015
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the statement below on the federal indictment unsealed yesterday charging six people with supporting terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. All six individuals are natives of Bosnia who immigrated to the United States, three of whom have become naturalized citizens and the other three have either refugee or legal resident status.
Chairman Goodlatte: “These charges and arrests of people seeking to aid the Islamic State underscores the very reason why we need to ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement tools are robust enough to identify terrorist cells and homegrown terrorists within the United States. It also demonstrates once again that those who want to do us harm will often use our immigration system to do so. Our immigration laws, if properly enforced, are an important first line of defense in protecting our nation.
“The terrorist threat is real and ongoing and we must remain vigilant so that we protect Americans and our national security. I thank the many federal law enforcement officers at the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other agencies who have worked tirelessly to keep our nation safe and to identify and apprehend these people aiding terrorist organizations.”
Chairman Goodlatte: “These charges and arrests of people seeking to aid the Islamic State underscores the very reason why we need to ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement tools are robust enough to identify terrorist cells and homegrown terrorists within the United States. It also demonstrates once again that those who want to do us harm will often use our immigration system to do so. Our immigration laws, if properly enforced, are an important first line of defense in protecting our nation.
“The terrorist threat is real and ongoing and we must remain vigilant so that we protect Americans and our national security. I thank the many federal law enforcement officers at the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other agencies who have worked tirelessly to keep our nation safe and to identify and apprehend these people aiding terrorist organizations.”