Illegal Jordanian National in Texas Arrested for Planning Terrorist Attack on Jews

A Jordanian national living illegally in Texas, Sohaib Abuayyash, has been arrested for allegedly studying how to build bombs and expressing support for killing Jews. FBI Director Chris Wray cited Abuayyash's case as an example of the increased risk of terror attacks in the U.S. Abuayyash arrived in the U.S. on a tourism visa in 2016, left, and returned in 2019 using a Palestine passport. He had applied for asylum, which is still pending, and was approved for employment authorization. Abuayyash was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and has allegedly expressed a desire to go to Gaza to fight. The FBI is currently not tracking any credible threats from terrorist groups, but Wray highlighted the concern of violent extremists carrying out attacks in the U.S. inspired by events in the Middle East.