The jihadist threat to America goes far beyond the Islamic State (IS). While there has been a relative surge in the number of U.S. persons radicalized and recruited by the group in the last five years, other jihadist organizations, primarily al-Qaeda, remain popular and active. This suggests that, while group affiliation matters, the draw of the wider Salafi-jihadist ideology that al-Qaeda, IS, and other like-minded groups adhere to is equally important when analyzing the jihadist threat to America. Many American recruits are driven by a broad counter-cultural idealism, and are less tangled up in the minutiae of the power plays that divide such groups abroad. Indeed, in many cases they are influenced by a blend of ideas and messages from various, often rival, jihadist groups.
Analysis of the current threat of homegrown jihadist terrorism therefore requires an examination of the appeal of Salafi-jihadist ideology in the U.S. as a whole, regardless of group affiliation. Drawing upon a wide array of legal documents, media reporting, and, in select cases, interviews with law enforcement, journalists, and family members, this study examines all cases of U.S. persons charged with jihadist-inspired terrorism offenses unrelated to IS. The findings include:
- During the study’s sample period, from the beginning of the Syrian uprising in March 2011 to July 31, 2016, 178 people we charged in America with jihadist-inspired terrorist offenses. Of these cases, 79 were charged with offenses unrelated to IS.
- Twenty-six (33%) of those charged with non-IS-related terrorism offenses were arrested in 2011. In the years since, the annual number of non-IS terrorism-related arrests has fallen, with twelve arrests in 2015 and three since the beginning of 2016 and the end of the sample period.
- In 38% of the non-IS-related cases, the individuals involved attempted to or successfully traveled abroad. Destinations included Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. This compares to 46% among IS-related cases in the same period.
- 52 of the 79 individuals charged with non-IS-related jihadist terrorism offenses are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Four are refugees, two were in the country illegally when arrested, and one was in the U.S. on a student visa.