The recent breach of a military base in Virginia has sent shockwaves through the nation, raising urgent questions about the state of border security and immigration policies.
At the heart of this incident are two Jordanian nationals who allegedly attempted to gain unauthorized access to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, sparking a flurry of congressional inquiries and heightened concerns over potential threats to national security.
On May 3rd, 2023, officials reported that two Jordanian individuals in a box truck were stopped at the gate of the Marine Corps Base Quantico.
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The driver allegedly claimed they were making a delivery to the post office and were subcontracted by Amazon.
However, the situation took a concerning turn when one of the military police officers noticed the driver ignoring direct instructions and attempting to access the base.
The two individuals were promptly apprehended and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further investigation.
ICE’s subsequent findings revealed that one of the Jordanians had illegally crossed into the U.S. in April 2023 in California, while the other was a foreign student whose visa status had been terminated in January 2023.
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The incident at Quantico has ignited concerns among Republican lawmakers, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Jordan has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the breach, requesting detailed information about the individuals’ immigration histories, benefits applications, and processing upon entry into the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged the congressional inquiries, stating that the department will continue to respond appropriately to oversight efforts. However, DHS has declined to reveal the names of the Jordanian nationals involved, citing privacy concerns.
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, both ICE and the FBI have indicated that they have no information suggesting the Jordanian individuals were affiliated with any organization that would pose a threat to public safety or national security. The authorities have also confirmed that the two individuals do not have criminal records in the United States.
In response to the incident, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Ranking Member Lindsey Graham, have also sent letters to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking further information and accountability.
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House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), along with other Committee leaders, issued a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray, requesting information on the attempted breach of the base.
“The Committee on Homeland Security (Committee) is investigating the attempted breach of Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCB Quantico) by two individuals on May 3, 2024. According to public reports, two men drove a truck to the main gate of MCB Quantico, where guards attempted to redirect the truck after the two men could not provide access credentials. The driver ignored the guards’ orders, and moved the truck forward until officers stopped the truck by deploying vehicle denial barriers. The two individuals were subsequently detained and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Reporting suggests that one occupant of the truck is a Jordanian foreign national who recently crossed the U.S. Southwest border and one occupant is on a federal terrorist watchlist. It is unclear if the descriptions apply to the same occupant.
“The Committee previously expressed concern to you about hostile foreign nationals released into the United States in a September 19, 2023, letter, requesting information about possible breaches of U.S. military installations and critical infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation failed to provide any substantive response. The Committee’s letter highlighted its concern regarding Chinese nationals attempting to access U.S. sensitive sites, a concern now heightened by historically high numbers of Chinese nationals attempting to illegally cross the U.S. Southwest border in the past year. On March 27, 2024, a Chinese national who was illegally present in the United States, entered Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms without authorization or valid identification, drawing parallels to the May 3, 2024 incident at MCB Quantico.
“The attempted breach at MCB Quantico, however, reflects a possibly more dire reality for the state of U.S. national security. As Director Wray stated in a recent Senate hearing, “a wide array of very dangerous threats . . . emanate from the border,” requiring “much greater vigilance” to protect the country. The Committee fears that the Department of Homeland Security’s relaxed vetting standards, which complement President Biden’s avowed desire to “surge the border” with inadmissible migrants, have created an environment ripe for exploitation by individuals aiming to undermine the United States at its most critical points. If individuals on the terrorist watchlist are so emboldened to attempt to breach a Marine Corps base, the Department of Homeland Security and the entire executive branch must act swiftly to identify, apprehend, and detain such hostile actors on American soil,” wrote the Chairman.
The Quantico breach has thrust the complex issues of border security and immigration into the national spotlight.
As the investigations continue, it will be crucial for policymakers, law enforcement, and the public to engage in informed and nuanced discussions to ensure the safety and security of the nation, while upholding the principles of justice.
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