Many who have professionally worried, as did former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, that violent jihadists might illegally cross the United States’ southern border are often challenged with this: "Name a single U.S. border-crossing immigrant asylum-seeker who ever committed a terrorist attack."

Introducing Abdulahi Hasan Sharif of Somalia.

In 2011, Sharif had himself smuggled from Somalia through Brazil and Central America. Then he entered the United States over the Mexico-California border and claimed asylum. Sharif went on to Canada, where he allegedly conducted a double vehicle-ramming and stabbing rampage in 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta, that severely injured a police officer and four other people. He was carrying an Islamic State flag in one of the ramming vehicles.

That border-crossing Sharif is now on trial in Canada. Not a single corporate American media outlet has written a story about him, either on his trial, his unique place in history as a terrorist who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, or what America needs to learn about this case to improve border security.

Key takeaways:

Serious issues of U.S. homeland security and border security raised by this case remain unexplored and unexcavated. These are listed.

The Canadians are putting on the sort of trial that likely will answer none of the pertinent questions, such as Sharif's motives or what happened with his U.S. asylum case and order that he be deported home. Still, some things have come out including a Center for Immigration Studies map of Sharif's route through Africa and South America.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee’s Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., issued a letter one year ago formally requesting that DHS's Office of Inspector General investigate the Sharif case because "it appears there has been no comprehensive study of the incident." There's been no word on that call but, as the U.S. government's only known expression of interest in this case, the OIG should follow through on this committee request.

Read the full article in the Federalist.