Two refugees from the Middle East who came to the U.S. three years ago have been arrested on federal terrorism charges in California and Texas, the Justice Department announced late Thursday.
The men, both revealed to be Iraqi-born Palestinians, were identified as Omar Faraj Saeed Al-Hardan, 24, and Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, reported CNN. Al-Hardan, who was arrested in Houston, Texas, came to the U.S. in November 2009, while Al-Jayab, who was arrested in Sacramento, Calif., entered the country in 2012 as a Syrian refugee.
While both weren't found to be connected to a specific terrorist plot or attack, they are accused of providing false information to immigration officials about their alleged ties to international terrorist organizations.
Specifically, Al-Hardan is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and the indictment alleges that he had offered his services to provide expert advice and and assistance. Meanwhile, Al-Jayab is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism, with officials alleging that he lied about traveling to Syria and posting his support for terrorist groups on social media.
Officials say that the arrests aren't related to one another but believe that the suspects may have been in contact with one another, according to Reuters.
News of the arrest comes as concerns over national security arise following President Barack Obama's pledge to take in 10,000 refugees in 2016 as Syria's civil war rages on.
Alluding to this pledge and the Houston arrest, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas) said: "This is exactly what we have repeatedly told the Obama administration could happen and why we do not want refugees coming to Texas. There are serious questions about who these people really are, as evidenced by today's events," according to The Hill.
In the meantime, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney in Sacramento said "there is no current threat to public safety associated with this arrest."
Both men will appear in court Friday. If convicted, Al-Hardan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while Al-Jayab would face a maximum of eight, and both would be slapped with a $250,000 fine.
