A South African woman whose arrest last month raised concerns about whether terrorists could easily enter the United States by way of Mexico has been indicted on charges of violating US immigration law and lying to a federal officer, a US prosecutor announced on Thursday.
Farida Goolam Mahamed Ahmed was arrested on July 19 after being stopped by the US border patrol at the McAllen-Miller International airport in South Texas as she tried to board a plane for New York.
She was carrying a pair of muddy, wet pants in her baggage, $7 300 in various currencies and a passport with three double-sided pages missing. Border patrol agents determined Ahmed did not have a valid visa for entry into the United States.
During a court hearing in McAllen after her arrest, testimony indicated Ahmed travelled from Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 8, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to London, then to Mexico City on or about July 14.
Ahmed easily passed through checkpoints because South Africans don’t need visas to travel in those countries. She then crossed into the United States illegally by wading across the Rio Grande river.
The three-count indictment, returned under seal by a Houston federal grand jury on Monday, accuses Ahmed of illegally entering the United States, using an altered passport and making a false statement to a federal agent.
”Our national security depends upon the effective enforcement of our immigration laws, especially along our two international borders,” US Attorney Michael Shelby said on Thursday.
”Today’s indictment demonstrates our continuing commitment to uphold those laws and strengthen our security.”
After Ahmed’s arrest, investigators tried to determine whether the woman had ties to terrorists groups. Law enforcement officials have previously said that nothing has been substantiated.
Some federal lawmakers asked that the Department of Homeland Security detain all non-Mexican immigrants caught entering the country illegally. They contended terrorists could be among the thousands of non-Mexican immigrants who are arrested then released into the country on their own recognizance while they await deportation hearings.
Nancy Herrera, a spokesperson for Shelby’s office, said ”this case, like any other case, is thoroughly investigated,” but would not comment when asked if Ahmed is still being investigated for possible ties to terrorist groups.
Ahmed (48) is scheduled to appear for arraignment before US Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy in Houston on Friday.
Officials determined that Ahmed, who had at one time resided in the Chicago area, had last lawfully left the United States in 1996. ‒ Sapa-AP