A recent Department of Homeland Security report indicates an upward trend of migration from Special Interest Countries – regions flagged for terrorism concerns – to the United States. Almost 25,000 migrants, primarily single adult males from these regions, were detained attempting to enter the U.S. during the first half of the 2024 fiscal year, compared to 61,000 for the entirety of 2023 — a six percent increase. Most of the migrants were released into the U.S. pending asylum claims.
A notable majority of these migrants hail from Turkey, with around 7,000 apprehended since the beginning of October. Migrants from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have also surged in numbers, with over 4,300 intercepted since October, marking a 65 percent increase year-on-year. Mauritania was flagged by the State Department in 2023 as a high-risk zone compounded by crime and terrorism.