Washington, D.C. (January 9, 2025) – The Center for Immigration Studies
new three-part investigative series, along with a companion podcast, documents the first known terror attack in the United States committed by an illegal border-crosser. The series, titled “First Blood: Anatomy of Border-Crosser’s Chicago Terror Attack”, uncovers the details of the October 26, 2024, attack in Chicago, highlights the lack of media and law enforcement coverage it received, and proposes solutions to address the national security and community safety risks stemming from the Biden border crisis.
Mauritanian national Sidi Mohammad Abdallahi, who crossed the U.S.–Mexico border illegally in March 2023, targeted Orthodox Jewish residents, police officers, and paramedics in Chicago in an act of jihad supporting Hamas. Abdallahi’s subsequent suicide in custody prevented a trial and further obscured the case.
The Center’s national security fellow, Todd Bensman, traveled to Chicago to learn more about the alarming incident and to remind the country that a border-crossing terrorist, often dismissed as a hypothetical fantasy, has, in fact, struck on U.S. soil. Bensman conducted the first-ever interview with the initial target of the attack, an Orthodox Jewish man walking to attend worship services.
Part 1: First Blood: Anatomy of Border-Crosser’s Chicago Terror Attack
Explores Abdallahi’s illegal entry and the policies that allowed the presence of a Muslim extremist from one of the 26 countries the U.S. deems a national security threat in the U.S., emphasizing the systemic failures leading to the attack.
Part 2: Mystery Terrorist: The Unknown Life and Violent Times of Illegal Border-Crosser Sidi Mohammad Abdallahi
Investigates Abdallahi’s background, revealing missed red flags, uncovers alarming details about Abdallahi’s path from the U.S.–Mexico border to the Chicago neighborhood he terrorized. The findings expose serious flaws in the systems meant to prevent such attacks and reveal the untapped potential for intelligence-gathering that could avert future tragedies and question the media’s lack of interest in this terrorist attack that occurred a week prior to the election.
Part 3: The Remedies: How to Lower the Risk of New Terror Strikes by Border-Crossing Islamist Extremists
Drawing on lessons from a 2016 directive by President Obama’s DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, the report advocates for a whole-of-government approach to border security and counterterrorism.
“Abdallahi’s attack is a wake-up call for a nation grappling with border security and counterterrorism challenges,” said Bensman. “There is a need for further investigation into his activities, associates, and motivations. Key agencies, including the FBI and DHS, must clarify their roles and reveal how this incident was allowed to unfold on their watch.”
“This attack is a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities created by current immigration policies,” Bensman concluded. “Urgent reforms are required to prevent future tragedies.”
