Homeland Security said Thursday that the alleged mastermind of the foiled terror attack targeting the White House UFC event was in the United States illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez from Mexico after he was arrested by the FBI in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 14.
According to DHS, the Obama Administration granted him Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status in 2014.
“This illegal alien should NEVER have been allowed in our country — and we will ensure he faces justice and is swiftly removed from our nation," the department added.
The Justice Department said the group had planned to fly small drones with explosives above the north side of the UFC arena, forcing “high value targets” to evacuate. They allegedly planned to then act as snipers and shoot their targets.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and high-ranking members of the administration attended the mixed martial arts show, along with thousands of spectators. Vance revealed this week that the plot was not far along in its planning stages, saying the alleged perpetrators weren’t in Washington at the time of the event.
Patel said the agency first became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C., on June 10, four days before the martial arts show was set to take place.
Alvarez was among five men who have been arrested and charged in connection with the plot. The other suspects have been identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, and Bryan Roa and Michael Thomas of California.
Each suspect faces federal charges including conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder of federal officials, and firearms offenses.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.