A 22-year-old Lebanese migrant, Basel Bassel Ebbadi, was detained while attempting to cross the border into the United States. He was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, on March 9. During his detention, Ebbadi shockingly confessed to being a Hezbollah member with intentions to construct a bomb in New York, according to a Border Patrol document.
Ebbadi revealed during a detailed interview that he had undergone seven years of training with Hezbollah. He also mentioned his active involvement in the organization for four years, where he was responsible for guarding weapon storage sites. These revelations came from internal ICE documents.
He further disclosed that his training was centered around jihad and targeting non-Muslim individuals. This information was part of a Border Patrol memo obtained exclusively.
The United States has witnessed a significant increase in migrants listed on the terror watchlist trying to enter the country illegally. This surge comes as illegal crossings continue to reach unprecedented levels.
Hezbollah, known for being supported by Iran, has been involved in recent conflicts, launching missiles into northern Israel. This follows an attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in casualties among IDF soldiers and civilians.
Ebbadi expressed his desire to leave Lebanon, stating his reluctance to harm others. He highlighted the difficulty of leaving the organization once someone becomes a part of it. Upon entering the U.S., he was without documents, claiming they were stolen in Costa Rica. Ebbadi also admitted to using false identification in several countries, including Sweden, Ecuador, and Panama.
His initial plan was to reach New York and then travel across the country. However, after making threats, he was isolated and interviewed by the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT).
Despite being marked for deportation, it remains unclear to which country he will be sent. Border agents have reported a significant increase in encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist at both the northern and southern borders. The criteria for being listed have expanded, leading to a rise in such encounters.
This situation underscores the urgent need for robust border security measures. The state of Texas, under Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, has taken steps to enhance border security in response to the federal government’s inaction. This effort aims to address public safety and national security concerns arising from security vulnerabilities at the border.