Venezuelan passports exploited by terror suspects to gain access to the U.S
- Leaked Venezuelan intelligence documents reveal that over 10,000 individuals obtained fraudulent passports tied to a national security threat.
- The scheme was facilitated by Ghazi Nasr Al-Din, a diplomat previously linked to Hezbollah, who approved many of these passports.
- The operation raises significant concerns about immigration control and the potential for terrorist activities on U.S. soil.
In Venezuela, leaked intelligence documents have revealed a concerning operation involving over 10,000 individuals from Iran, Syria, and Lebanon obtaining fraudulent passports. This scheme, spanning nearly a decade, involves serious national security implications, particularly for the United States. The operation comes to light amid fears that Iranian operatives may exploit these documents to establish a foothold in South America before attempting illegal entry into the U.S. Venezuelan passports provide valuable visa-free access to more than 130 countries, including many European nations. Central to this passport scheme is Ghazi Nasr Al-Din, a Lebanese-born Venezuelan diplomat previously designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2008. Al-Din's role involved counseling supporters of Hezbollah on fundraising methods, further exacerbating concerns over his authority to facilitate the issuance of passports. Despite allegations of wrongdoing, Venezuelan Embassy officials have denied any involvement in or awareness of these fraudulent activities, dismissing the claims as false. Data shows that U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended over 1,500 Iranian nationals illegally entering the U.S. from 2021 to 2024, with many released into the country under the Biden administration. The scale of immigration in recent years has raised alarms among federal authorities about potential sleeper cells or terrorist sympathizers operating within the United States. An internal memo from CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott highlighted the heightened threat level posed by these undocumented entries, suggesting that the situation is deteriorating. Overall, the situation underscores long-standing issues surrounding Venezuelan travel documents, which have been criticized for their vulnerability to exploitation by criminals and terrorists alike—a concern that traces back to the presidency of Hugo Chávez when the first warnings of easy accessibility to Venezuelan passports were flagged. As investigations continue, U.S. officials are faced with increasing pressures to secure the borders and mitigate any further risks posed by individuals who may use fraudulent documents to enter the nation.