{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-seeks-immigration-history-nyc-port-authority-terrorist-attacker", "Grassley Seeks Immigration History of NYC Port Authority Terrorist Attacker", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is requesting background information on Akayed Ullah, the Bangladeshi immigrant who yesterday detonated an improvised explosive device near the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City injuring five. \u00a0 Ullah benefitted from the controversial immigration occurrence known as chain migration. He received a visa based on his indirect familial connection to a U.S. citizen and not based on his skills or potential economic contribution to the U.S.\u00a0 At 20 years old, Ullah immigrated to the United States on an F-43 Family Immigrant visa, a derivative category meant to benefit children of F-41 visa beneficiaries.\u00a0 His mother, the sibling of a U.S. citizen, immigrated to the U.S. on an F-41 visa. \u00a0 In his letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, Grassley requests the full immigration history of Ullah, records of Ullah\u2019s criminal background, if there are any, or placement on any terrorism watch-lists, if applicable, and any visas held by, applied for or revoked from Ullah. \u00a0 \u00a0 December 11, 2017 \u00a0 VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION \u00a0 The Honorable Kirstjen M. Nielsen\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Honorable Rex Tillerson Secretary\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secretary  U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Department of State  Washington, D.C. 20528\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Washington, D.C. 20520 \u00a0 Dear Secretary Nielsen and Secretary Tillerson: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Earlier today, a man wearing an \u201cimprovised low-tech explosive device\u201d similar to a pipe bomb detonated the explosive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a busy transit hub near Times Square in New York City.[1]\u00a0 Law enforcement have identified the suspect as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah, a Bangladeshi immigrant who received a green card and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.[2] According to authorities, the suspect\u2019s device, held together by Velcro and zip ties, prematurely exploded injuring himself and three victims, all of whom are being treated for injuries at nearby hospitals.[3] Reportedly, Ullah told law enforcement that he committed the act in the name of ISIS.[4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 According to press reports, Ullah was 20 years old when his uncle, a U.S. citizen, petitioned for Ullah\u2019s mother to receive a derivative visa as a sister of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.[5] Ullah was subsequently allowed to emigrate as a child of a sister of a U.S. citizen benefiting from a controversial immigration occurrence known as chain migration. Therefore, Ullah, as a child of the principal applicant, was also allowed to receive derivative status and a green card, which he used to emigrate from Bangladesh in 2011. If these sources are correct, this further highlights the need to consider whether our country is best served by a family, non-skills based legal immigration system.\u00a0 To better understand what motivated this act of terror, please provide numbered written responses to the following questions no later than December 18, 2017: \u00a0 Department of Homeland Security: \u00a0 Please provide a list of all A-files, executive summaries, or receipt files with TECs hits for terrorism that have been requested from the Department of Homeland Security in furtherance of the investigation into the New York City terrorist attack including any information on Akayed Ullah. \u00a0 Did Akayed Ullah have any criminal convictions?\u00a0 Please explain and provide all relevant documentation. \u00a0 Was Akayed Ullah on any terrorist watch lists? If so, which lists and which dates was he on the lists? \u00a0 Department of State: \u00a0 Please provide all visa records and associated documentation for Akayed Ullah. \u00a0 Did Akayed Ullah apply for any U.S. visa? If the answer is yes, what category of visa was sought? Which embassy or consulate did he submit the application to? If the visa was denied, what was the basis for denial?\u00a0Please provide the visa category and validity period for any and all previous visas issued to Akayed Ullah. \u00a0 Please provide the dates of application submission and the basis of denial for any past visa applications submitted by Akayed Ullah, along with any associated documentation, case or interview notes, or other related information.Has Akayed Ullah ever been in possession of a U.S. visa that was later revoked? If so, please provide any information that supported the decision for revocation.Was Akayed Ullah subjected to any additional administrative processing associated with any visa application? Please explain and provide all documentation uncovered, or created, as a result of such additional processing.Please provide a timeline for all applications or petitions for immigrant and/or non-immigrant visas. \u00a0 Thank you for your attention to this important matter.\u00a0 Should you have any questions, please contact Katherine Nikas of my Committee staff at (202) 224-5225. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sincerely, \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Charles E. Grassley \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chairman \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senate Committee on the Judiciary \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 cc: The Honorable Dianne Feinstein Ranking Member \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senate Committee on the Judiciary \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Honorable Christopher Wray \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Director The Federal Bureau of Investigation \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Washington, D.C. 20535 \u00a0 -30-\u00a0  [1] Melanie Grayce West, Suspect in Custody in New York\u2019s Port Authority Explosion, The Wall Street Journal, available at https://www.wsj.com/articles/explosion-reported-at-new-yorks-port-authority-1512997695[2] http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/12/11/port-authority-terror-suspect/[3] Eliott C. McLaughlin, New York explosion: Man Detonates Pipe Bomb in \u2018Attempted Terrorist Attack,\u2019 Officials Say, CNN News, available at http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/11/us/new-york-possible-explosion-port-authority-subway/index.html; Aaron Katersky, Emily Shapiro, M.L. Niestel, Explosive Detonates Near New York City\u2019s Times Square in \u2018Attempted Terrorist Attack,\u2019 Suspect in Custody, ABC News, available at http://abcnews.go.com/US/nyc-police-respond-reports-explosion-port-authority-bus/story?id=51714989[4] Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst, and Tracy Connor, NYC Blast Suspect Akayed Ullah Aimed to Avenge Muslim Deaths, Source Says, NBC NEWS, available at https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/akayed-ullah-nyc-explosion-suspect-identified-27-year-old-brooklyn-n828361", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-seeks-immigration-history-nyc-port-authority-terrorist-attacker"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.832182053476572, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}