Illegal immigrants walk free after posting high bail for trespassing on military base.
Two foreign nationals, Hamdan and Dabous, found themselves in ICE custody after an alleged attempted breach at a major marine base, Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The incident occurred on May 3 when the two men in a box truck were stopped at a gate of the military installation.
The driver claimed they were making a delivery to the post office and worked for a company subcontracted by Amazon. However, the situation escalated when one of the military police officers noticed the driver ignoring instructions, attempting to access the base. Officials then turned the individuals over to ICE after their arrest for trespassing.
The bonds set for their release were $15,000 for Hamdan and $10,000 for Dabous. The conditions of their release include showing up for immigration proceedings and staying away from Quantico or other military installations. Both men are expected to appear in a Virginia federal court in September.
An ICE official stated that there is no evidence to suggest that either man has ties to a terrorist organization, as “no derogatory information was determined.” ICE previously mentioned that one of the men was arrested near San Ysidro, California, in April after entering the country unlawfully, while the other had overstayed the terms of his student visa. Despite their release, the two men remain in removal proceedings.
It remains unclear how the two men were connected or what their intentions were for trying to enter the military installation. The incident raised concerns about a potential terrorist attack, although ICE emphasized that there is no public safety or national security threat posed by the men. Both individuals have only been charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
This event is one of several incidents involving undocumented immigrants, taking place amidst a year where the crisis at the southern border has become a prominent political issue. Some Republicans have linked the Quantico incident to the policies of the Biden administration, accusing them of exacerbating the situation.
The administration, on the other hand, blames Republicans for hindering reforms and funding needed to address the ongoing crisis at the border. There is a political back-and-forth with Republicans accusing the administration of undoing successful policies implemented during the Trump era, leading to a surge in border issues.
