McCAUL: Ohio Man Arrested Charged with Training with Terrorist Organization

Arrest Highlights Grave Threat" of Returning Jihadists Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.  This arrest highlights the grave threat we face from returning American jihadists. Terrorist groups like ISIS & al Qaeda are luring Americans to the combat zone in Syria and Iraq and radicalized individuals are now clearly returning with the training and motivation to bring terror to our shores. The Obama Administration must ramp up its efforts to keep more Americans from traveling to terrorist sanctuaries now said Cong. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee after an Ohio man was arrested by federal authorities for training overseas and planning to commit terror on the homeland.   

The Director of National Intelligence recently said around 40 U.S. residents have joined extremists in Syria and are already back in our country an alarming admission that suggests there are gaps in our defenses. The Obama Administration must ramp up its efforts to keep more Americans from traveling to terrorist sanctuaries now and must do everything possible to keep these terrorists from returning to the United States.

I launched a bi-partisan Task Force to fully examine this threat and I urge the White Houses cooperation in determining how we can better combat it" McCaul said. In late February McCaul as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security announced the creation of a bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel" in response to the threat from extremists fighting overseas and the danger they pose to the U.S. Homeland. Comprised of five Republicans and three Democrats the Task Force will assess the U.S. governments efforts to obstruct terrorist travel and to keep violent extremists from entering the United States. The Task Force will meet with government agencies top officials outside experts and others to generate policy solutions and develop legislative recommendations to mitigate the threat. Members will include:

1. Rep. John Katko R-N.Y. Republican Lead
2. Rep. Loretta Sanchez D-Calif. Democratic Lead
3. Rep. Will Hurd R-Texas
4. Rep. Barry Loudermilk R-Ga.
5. Rep. Martha McSally R-Ariz.
6. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. D-N.J.
7. Rep. John Ratcliffe R-Texas
8. Rep. Filemon Vela D-Texas