Mayorkas Stresses Complex Threat Landscape for the US After New Orleans Attack

January 6, 2025 TruthUSA

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the truck attack in New Orleans is not connected to U.S. border issues.

Following the tragic attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, which resulted in multiple fatalities, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas remarked on January 5 that the U.S. is currently facing a “heightened threat environment.”

The incident left 14 individuals dead and numerous others injured when a man drove a truck into crowds on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas, was later killed in a confrontation with law enforcement.

In an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Mayorkas indicated that his department has collaborated with local law enforcement in New Orleans and has put into place extensive safety measures for the upcoming Sugar Bowl college football game and other events following the attack.

Mayorkas commented that there has been “a significant increase in what we term homegrown violent extremism” in the U.S. over the last decade.

“The threat landscape is very challenging, and that’s why it is essential for our community—including state and local officials and residents—to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions against potential violence,” he conveyed to the media.

He emphasized that the New Orleans assault was not associated with border issues, pointing out that the suspect was a U.S. citizen.

Jabbar was a 42-year-old former soldier of the U.S. Army hailing from Texas.

“The individual who carried out the terrorist attack in New Orleans was born and raised in the United States and served in our military. This is not a border-related issue,” Mayorkas reiterated. “Regarding the border, our utmost duty, which we strive to meet every single day across the Department of Homeland Security and the entire federal government, is to ensure the safety and security of the American populace.”

Authorities mentioned that they discovered an ISIS flag attached to the truck used in the attack. The FBI also reported that Jabbar shared videos on Facebook just hours prior to the attack, expressing his allegiance to the terrorist organization.

Donald Trump, the President-elect, condemned the New Orleans attack as an act of “pure evil,” suggesting it was linked to issues at the border.

“When I claimed that the criminals coming in are far worse than the ones we have in our nation, my statement was constantly contested by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be accurate. The crime rate in our country has reached unprecedented levels,” Trump asserted on Truth Social.

President Joe Biden, along with First Lady Jill Biden, is scheduled to travel to New Orleans on Monday to “mourn with the families and the community members who were affected by this tragic attack,” as stated by the White House.

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