A Pakistani national, Asif Raza Merchant, has been charged with plotting a murder-for-hire scheme targeting former President Donald Trump and other politicians despite being on a government watch list.
According to Breitbart News, Merchant gained entry to the United States under "significant public benefit parole" and traveled freely within the country before his arrest in July.
Merchant, age 46, was arrested on charges brought by the Department of Justice for allegedly orchestrating a plot to murder former President Donald Trump and other political figures.
Authorities noted that Merchant had been flagged as a "Lookout Qualified Person of Interest" in the Department of Homeland Security’s database, yet he was granted entry into the U.S.
Merchant landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on April 13, where federal agents interviewed, fingerprinted and inspected him.
During the inspection, agents observed that Merchant had recently traveled to Iran, a location frequently associated with Islamic terrorism activities.
The Department of Homeland Security’s database marked Merchant in bright red as a person of interest who should be monitored closely.
In spite of the warnings in the DHS database, officials permitted Merchant to enter the U.S. under "significant public benefit parole," which was initially set to expire on May 11. Merchant remained in the United States even after his parole period ended, moving freely and ostensibly preparing for his plot.
Speculation suggests that federal agents may have allowed Merchant into the country hoping he would aid in investigations and help apprehend other suspects.
While in the U.S., Merchant's travel included flights from Houston to New York City, New York City to Boston, and back to New York City between April and June. Merchant's arrest on July 12 occurred just as he was reportedly attempting to leave the U.S. for Pakistan, presumably to oversee the assassination plan.
According to prosecutors, Merchant was believed to be coordinating the assassination efforts with individuals he thought were recruited to conduct the attacks, which he intended to direct from abroad. Reports suggest that the federal agents allowed Merchant to enter the country under parole to potentially turn him against other conspirators.
Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani national, faced charges for a murder-for-hire plot targeting former President Donald Trump and other political figures. Even though his immigration records highlighted him as a "Lookout Qualified Person of Interest," he was allowed into the United States under "significant public benefit parole." This followed an inspection at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, even though he had recently traveled to Iran.
Merchant traveled freely inside the U.S., flying between Houston, New York City, and Boston, before his arrest on July 12 as he allegedly intended to depart for Pakistan to further orchestrate the plot. It is speculated that federal agents aimed to use him to bring other suspects into custody.
