Naturalized but radicalized: Recent terror attacks expose glaring problems with citizenship vetting

As many increasingly argue that the U.S. immigration system is too lenient, four incidents in less than two weeks are being investigated or classified as terrorist attacks linked to Islamist extremism. Most of the alleged perpetrators are naturalized U.S. citizens.Throughout history, we have expected people who immigrated here to become assimilated to the American culture. And I think over the last 30 years or so, there’s been this idea that we no longer need to do that, and this is an example of the consequences of those kinds of bad policies,” Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., told Just The News. 
“We need to be more nimble when things are changing on the world stage, in the geopolitical realm. We need to be able to say, ‘Now, wait a minute, maybe for right now, in light of the fact that we’ve got a war in the Middle East where we’re attempting to take out the state sponsor of terrorism and free the world from the stranglehold that they’ve had for 47 years, should we maybe be reconsidering what we’re doing in terms of bringing people into this country?'”
On March 1 in Austin, Texas, Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old Senegalese immigrant and naturalized citizen, opened fire at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden while wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie, killing two and injuring over a dozen. The FBI is probing it as potential terrorism tied to pro-Iran sentiments, though no explicit anti-Jewish intent was reported. CBS News reported that he wore an Iran flag T-shirt under the hoodie during the attack, and had photos of Iranian leaders at home.
On March 7 in New York City, teenagers Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, reportedly inspired by ISIS, hurled homemade explosive devices at anti-Islam protesters near Gracie Mansion, failing to cause injuries but leading to terrorism charges. Their motive appeared rooted in jihadist ideology against perceived islamophobes. Balat is a natural-born citizen but Kayami, now a U.S. citizen, was born to Afghan nationals who were naturalized in 2004 and 2009. 
Shouted “Allahu Akbar” during shooting spree
On Thursday at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh—a former Army National Guardsman previously convicted for ISIS support and released from prison in 2024—shouted “Allahu Akbar” before shooting and killing one person while wounding two others in an ROTC classroom, an act the FBI deemed terrorism driven by radical Islamist beliefs, though not specifically targeting Jews. USAToday reported that Jalloh is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone. 
Finally, later Thursday in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a 41-year-old gunman born in Lebanon (identified in some reports as Ayman Ghazaleh) rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel synagogue—home to a preschool—and opened fire, injuring a security guard before being killed in a shootout. 
Federal officials labeled it a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community, fueled by surging antisemitism amid the Iran conflict, with Jewish leaders citing it as part of a broader wave of threats to synagogues. Though born in Lebanon, Ghazaleh is a U.S. citizen.
Significant gaps in screening and vetting procedures for foreign nationals
The debate over whether U.S. immigration standards and vetting processes are too lax has intensified in recent years, particularly amid concerns about national security and public safety following high-profile incidents involving naturalized immigrants.
Critics argue that the system is insufficiently rigorous, pointing to reports like the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s 2024 audit, which highlighted significant gaps in screening and vetting procedures for foreign nationals at borders and in asylum applications, warning that such lapses risk admitting dangerous individuals or allowing threats to reside in the country.
President Donald Trump has been a leading voice, repeatedly asserting that vetting is inadequate and allowing criminals and terrorists entry, referencing an explosion in “migrant crime” under the Biden administration.
Trump’s administration implemented “extreme vetting” policies, including travel bans and continuous screening of all visa holders, attempting to amend prior standards that were weak and dismantled.
Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem supported broader immigration enforcement powers, as seen in her involvement in a 2025 Supreme Court case challenging restrictions on federal agents’ ability to conduct stops based on factors like ethnicity or language, arguing for fewer limits to address perceived laxity in border controls.
Additionally, a majority of Republicans—65% according to a 2025 YouGov poll—favor decreasing legal immigration or reducing it to zero, reflecting a partisan view that the system is overly permissive. Organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies have echoed these sentiments, warning that poorly enforced limits could lead to immigration flows reaching 10 million annually if relaxed further.
Amanda Head is White House Correspondent for Just The News. You can follow her here.

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