Border Patrol arrests South African illegal immigrant on terrorist watchlist in New York City

The United States Border Patrol (USBP) on Tuesday arrested a South African illegal immigrant in New York City, after he pinged a "positive match" on the terrorist watchlist.

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said the man, who has not been publicly identified so far, was previously arrested in Texas for criminal trespassing but was released into the country based on information available at the time.

"A further subsequent investigation revealed a positive match on the terrorist watchlist, prompting swift action by USBP agents and personnel at the National Targeting Center," Owens wrote in a post on X. "Thanks to the coordination of multiple agencies, this potential threat was located, taken into custody, and is now pending removal."

A Texas Department of Public Safety official confirmed to Fox News that the South African national was arrested in the Lone Star State in September, and said he was part of a group of 36 other illegal migrants, which included special interest illegal immigrants from Turkey, Pakistan, India and Vietnam. 

It is not clear if the South African was one of the designated "special interest illegal immigrants," or when he arrived in New York City.

The arrest comes after federal data revealed that at least 103 people on the terrorist watchlist were arrested in the United States in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, according to the Washington Examiner.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.