In a deeply troubling development, a Pakistani national charged with conspiring to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials was allowed entry into the United States despite being flagged on a terror watchlist. Asif Raza Merchant, 46, was arrested last month and now faces charges related to a murder-for-hire plot aimed at a U.S. politician or government official. The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed these details in a press release, sparking outrage over the apparent security lapses.
Merchant was granted entry into the U.S. by the FBI in April through a special permission known as “significant public benefit parole.” This is despite the fact that he was on a terrorism watchlist and had recently traveled to Iran. According to documents obtained by Just The News, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force interviewed Merchant, inspected his electronic devices, and fingerprinted him upon his arrival in Houston but ultimately allowed him to enter the country. The FBI’s report noted that Merchant was “polite and cooperative” during the encounter, which appears to have influenced the decision to grant him entry.
The decision to allow Merchant into the country has drawn sharp criticism, especially given his immediate actions after entering the U.S. The DOJ stated that Merchant contacted an individual he believed could assist in carrying out an assassination plot. Unbeknownst to him, this individual had alerted law enforcement and became a confidential source (CS) working with federal agents. Merchant reportedly discussed recruiting hitmen to steal documents and assassinate politicians, including a high-profile target who was heavily guarded.
The plot thickened as undercover federal agents posed as hitmen, negotiating a $5,000 payment for the assassination. During his arrest, Merchant barricaded himself in his residence for 20 minutes before law enforcement could enter. A search of his home revealed a handwritten note with code words intended for communicating about the assassination plot, further implicating him in the conspiracy.
While official court documents did not explicitly name former President Trump as Merchant’s target, The New York Daily News cited a source confirming this was the case. Merchant’s actions and the subsequent arrest have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism measures, particularly the decision to grant entry to an individual already flagged as a potential threat.
This case underscores the vulnerabilities in the current system, where known threats can slip through the cracks, putting national security at risk. The ability of a flagged individual to not only enter the country but also actively engage in a conspiracy to assassinate a former president speaks to significant flaws in immigration and law enforcement protocols. It highlights the urgent need for more stringent measures to ensure that individuals on terror watchlists are thoroughly vetted and prevented from entering the U.S.
