Following an incident last year where two Jordanian nationals were apprehended for trespassing at Marine Corps Base Quantico and subsequently released on bond, one of the individuals has been re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Hasan Yousef Hamdan, 32, and Mohammad Khair Dabous, 28, were initially detained on May 3, 2024, after allegedly driving a box truck onto the base. This incident raised concerns among some experts, who suggested it could have been a reconnaissance mission for a potential terrorist attack.

After their initial arrest, both men were transferred to ICE custody and released after posting bond – $15,000 for Hamdan and $10,000 for Dabous. Their release was conditional on their appearance at all subsequent immigration hearings and adherence to a restriction keeping them away from U.S. military installations. According to the New York Post, Hamdan, who initially entered the U.S. near San Diego in April 2024, has now been apprehended again and transferred to a facility in Bowling Green, Virginia. The specific reason for his re-arrest remains unclear. Bowling Green is the location of ICE's Caroline Detention Facility, which houses individuals seeking asylum and those facing deportation.

Hamdan's initial release on bond, despite his reported presence on a terror watch list, drew criticism and sparked controversy. Thirteen members of Congress penned a letter condemning the Biden administration's Justice Department for permitting the release. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) voiced his concerns, stating, "It is unthinkable that illegal aliens who attempted to gain access to a secure U.S. military facility would be released on bail." He criticized the administration for prioritizing "the comfort of foreign nationals" over established immigration laws.

Dabous, the second individual involved in the initial incident, entered the U.S. on a student visa and remained in the country after it expired. At the time of their first arrest, both men were reportedly unarmed, had no prior criminal history, and were not accused of terrorism-related motives. They claimed to be Amazon delivery drivers, a story that raised suspicion among authorities. Dave Katz, a former federal firearms instructor who has worked at Quantico and is now CEO of Global Security Group, expressed concerns about their narrative. He highlighted the implausibility of a student who overstayed their visa connecting with someone who illegally crossed into the U.S. on the opposite side of the country, both ending up in the same truck. Katz characterized the situation as having no logical explanation other than a potentially malicious one.

Katz likened the incident to a "dry run" for a potential future attack, noting that Quantico houses training facilities and labs for the FBI and DEA, making it a potential target. Charges related to the initial breach were dismissed without prejudice in October at the request of the then-U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jessica Aber. Both men still face immigration proceedings.