A Somalian pirate attempting to slip into the United States from Canada has been arrested and now faces a series of national security-related charges. Said Jama Ahmed was apprehended on April 14 after an off-duty Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer spotted him walking southbound carrying a backpack several miles north of the U.S.-Canada border.
National Security Threat
Two hours after the initial sighting, a U.S. Border Patrol agent encountered Ahmed and took him into custody. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Ahmed has outstanding warrants for violations related to falsely making, using, and forging a passport. Additionally, his fingerprints match a 2012 national security threat with ties to Somali piracy.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized the previous administration's border policies, stating: “Weak Biden Administration border policies allowed this illegal alien to enter and remain in the country despite his multiple law enforcement encounters. We are thankful for our hardworking U.S. CBP officers and Canadian officials for their cooperation in arresting this individual. DHS will continue to work to arrest criminal illegal aliens to protect the American homeland from all threats.”
Busted for Piracy
Ahmed is currently held by the U.S. Border Patrol in the District of North Dakota for illegal entry. DHS noted that Ahmed has a lengthy record of encounters with U.S. military and law enforcement. On March 10, 2012, the U.S.S. Halsey responded to a distress call from an Indian-flagged ship that had been hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. A Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team boarded the vessel and encountered Ahmed along with nine other armed pirates who had taken the Indian ship hostage. The Navy logged Ahmed’s fingerprint at that time.
Ahmed first entered the U.S. in September 2022 near San Luis, Arizona. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detained him in 2024 during a warrant search for fraudulent documents, and a full extradition warrant was issued on April 24, 2025.
