Earlier this month, Border Patrol agents intercepted a Lebanese migrant near El Paso, Texas, who claimed affiliation with Hezbollah and expressed intentions to travel to New York with the aim of constructing an explosive device, a Customs and Border Protection official confirmed on Monday.

The individual is currently under U.S. custody, and an ongoing investigation is underway regarding both the individual and the validity of his statements, as stated by the official, who requested anonymity.

Initially reported by the New York Post, Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, was apprehended while attempting to cross the Texas border on March 9.

He allegedly informed agents about his alleged training with Hezbollah and stated his intention to manufacture a bomb, NBC News reported.

As of July 2023, Customs and Border Protection had identified 160 individuals matching the identities listed in the Terrorist Screening Dataset attempting to enter the United States via the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2023, compared to 100 in the previous fiscal year.

Overall, the U.S. registered approximately 2.5 million encounters with migrants attempting to cross the border during fiscal 2023.

It remains unclear whether the individual apprehended on March 9 was included in the aforementioned dataset.

Written by B.C. Begley