USCIS assists with a Federal Terrorism Case of a Former Iraqi Refugee Pleading Guilty to Supporting ISIS

HOUSTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided key support to an investigation that led to a former refugee and legal permanent resident in Texas pleading guilty to charges of providing material support to ISIS. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force, included USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) liaison.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Hafedh Alqaysi, 28, admitted in federal court that he used his computer expertise to assist the terrorist group from 2015 to 2020. Court documents showed that Alqaysi provided ISIS with resources, including designing logos for the group’s media arm, the Kalachnikov team. Additionally, he sent hacking tutorials, stolen credit card information, and forged identity documents to the terrorist organization. Alqaysi entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

USCIS’ FDNS officers focus on identifying potential national security and public safety threats in collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. FDNS safeguards the integrity of the nation’s immigration system and ensures that immigration benefits are not granted to individuals that may pose a threat to national security or public safety.

The U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 5, where Alqaysi faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains in custody pending the hearing.

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