Staff Reports
Yet another eyebrow-raising episode has unfolded at Marine Corps Base Quantico involving two individuals from Jordan, one of whom was on a terror watchlist. It’s hard to imagine a better way to put a spotlight on the gaping holes in American security and immigration enforcement than this incident.
The situation started when Mohammed Khair Hassan Dabous and his buddy Hasan Yousef Hamdan attempted to gain access to the base, claiming they were out making Amazon deliveries. It turns out, though, that Hamdan’s name was flagged in our national security screening process, making his presence a bit concerning. The audacity of these two to rock up in a delivery truck, especially when one may have been less of a delivery driver and more of a potential threat, suggests that the vetting process for delivery drivers could be more than a little lacking.
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As workers at Quantico conducted their duties, they were taken by surprise when the vehicle tried to leave an inspection area. It’s safe to say that wasn’t part of the plan. Imagine the glances exchanged among the security officers when they learned that Hamdan was playing in the same league as so-called “terror watchlist” players. Their sense of urgency kicked into high gear, and soon enough, the two were apprehended. And to reiterate, this is not the best advertisement for the lax border control policies that have allowed such an incident to occur.
Digging a little deeper shows that Hamdan had just jumped the border mere weeks earlier and was released back into society with nothing more than a court summons, which conveniently isn’t set until 2026. As for Mr. Dabous, he originally came to America on a student visa, which wasn’t exactly extended enthusiastically. One can only ponder how he transitioned from being a student to being behind the wheels of a delivery truck filled with Amazon packages. If this isn’t a glaring red flag, what is?
ICE confirmed that both men were apprehended as immigration violators, leading to their current legal limbo, including federal trespassing charges and the ever-looming shadow of deportation proceedings. They received bonds of $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, and will be seen in court soon. Meanwhile, a House Judiciary Committee report revealed a staggering statistic: 99 individuals caught trying to cross the southern border between 2021 and 2023 were also on the terror watchlist. One can’t help but wonder if this incident is just another piece of a worrying puzzle about border security and national safety.
The icing on the cake comes from Homeland Security, which claims it carefully evaluates risks before releasing illegal immigrants. However, judging by the current situation, prioritizing the safety of the American public might not be at the top of their to-do list. If there’s no lesson learned from the episode at Quantico, one can only chuckle at the bold naivety displayed by those in charge of keeping America safe.
