[Daily Standard] Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Kyle Dabruzzi - Today prosecutors often find it difficult to prove the most serious terrorism offenses, such as material support, beyond a reasonable doubt. But the investigation of suspected terrorists often reveals other illegal activities that prosecutors can go after. Janice Kephart, former counsel to the 9/11 Commission, recently authored a report entitled Immigration and Terrorism that examines the histories of 94 foreign-born terrorists who operated in the U.S. between the early 1990s and 2004. "About two-thirds (59) committed immigration fraud prior to or in conjunction with taking part in terrorist activity." Terrorists have also been involved in sham marriages, which are attractive because federal law allows an alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen to gain lawful permanent residency. A number of terrorists and terror supporters affiliated with al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad used sham marriages. For example, three members of a Hizbullah fundraising cell in Charlotte, N.C., were involved in sham marriages. U.S. News and World Report noted in late 2005 that "[n]early half of the 41 groups on the government's list of terrorist organizations are tied to narcotics trafficking, according to DEA statistics." Hizbullah in particular has profited from the U.S. drug trade. Terrorist groups and their backers have also engaged in a variety of financial scams, including identity theft, bank fraud, cigarette smuggling, and counterfeiting.
2007-04-13 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive