Two Jordanian Nationals Apprehended at Marine Corps Base Quantico

Two Jordanian nationals attempted to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico. One entered the U.S. illegally, and the other had an expired student visa. Both were apprehended and face deportation.

QUANTICO, VA (4-minute read) — Two Jordanian nationals were apprehended on May 3, 2024, after attempting to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that one of the individuals had entered the U.S. illegally in April, while the other had his foreign student status terminated early last year.

According to base authorities, the two men were stopped at a gate while driving a box truck. The driver claimed they were making a delivery for a company subcontracted by Amazon, headed to the post office on the base. However, Amazon has stated that these individuals were not delivering on its behalf and is currently investigating the situation.

Due to their lack of affiliation with the base and inability to provide valid credentials, the men were detained for further vetting. ICE confirmed that the base’s criminal investigations division charged the two Jordanian nationals with trespassing.

The first individual entered the U.S. on September 11, 2022, as an F-1 nonimmigrant student but had his status terminated on January 14, 2023. The second individual was arrested on April 8, 2024, near San Ysidro, California, for crossing the border illegally from Mexico. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear before an immigration judge.

Nearly a month after his release, both Jordanian nationals were arrested for the attempted Quantico Base breach. ICE stated that there is no evidence suggesting they are connected to any organizations posing a threat to public safety or national security. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that neither individual has a criminal history in the U.S. The FBI has not disclosed whether they are on a terrorist watchlist, following their policy of non-disclosure regarding specific investigations.

Safety Tip: Always verify credentials and work affiliations before granting access to restricted areas. Awareness and vigilance are key components of security.