The arrest of a criminal illegal immigrant in Kansas last week has triggered an urgent review of state-level identification procedures, particularly in Pennsylvania, which granted the individual a commercial driver’s license (CDL) despite his status as a foreign national wanted for terrorism.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the November 9 arrest of 31-year-old Akhror Bozorov, a citizen of Uzbekistan wanted in his home country for belonging to a terrorist organization. Bozorov was apprehended while working as a long-haul truck driver on U.S. highways.
The most alarming detail for many officials is that Bozorov held a valid CDL issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) under Governor Josh Shapiro.
“Not only was Akhror Bozorov—a wanted terrorist—RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration, but he was he was also given a commercial driver’s license by Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania,” stated Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This should go without saying, but terrorist illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on America’s highways.”
The core question facing state regulators is how a wanted individual, who reportedly cleared border checks only by providing fake identification, was able to obtain the necessary credentials to operate an 80,000-pound vehicle across state lines.
It’s been reported that the state issued the CDL because Bozorov had already cleared the DHS work permit process.
Bozorov’s journey began in February 2023 when he illegally crossed the U.S. Southern border. Despite being encountered by U.S. Border Patrol, he was subsequently released into American communities under the Biden administration’s border protocols.
The wanted status was clearly established elsewhere: Uzbek authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Bozorov in 2022 for distributing terrorist propaganda calling for jihad online and actively training and recruiting terrorists. The warrant had been uploaded to the international clearing house Interpol.
Following his release into the U.S., the Biden administration granted Bozorov federal work authorization in January 2024. This federal authorization became the foundation for his ability to gain the state-issued CDL from Pennsylvania shortly thereafter.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) weighed in on the failure, calling the incident “exhibit A of the cascading effect of the catch and release policy” that led to the security lapse at the state level.
ICE confirms that Bozorov remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
READ: Federal ‘Enforcement Blitz’ Hits Raleigh: Border Patrol Targets Illegal Immigrants In New Push
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