The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, said tonight that Americans fighting for the Islamic State in Syria are “entitled to come back” because they hold American citizenship:
Comey estimated that a dozen Americans are fighting for the Islamic State in Syria. And he believes he knows
“How many Americans are fighting in Syria on the side of the terrorists?” asked 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley.
“In the area of a dozen or so,” Comey replied.
“Do you know who they are?”
“Yes.”
Pelley pressed: “Each and every one of them?”
“I think of that, dozen or so, I do. I hesitate only because I don’t know what I don’t know,” Comey said.
“With American passports, how do you keep them from coming home and attacking the homeland?”
“Ultimately, an American citizen, unless their passport’s revoked, is entitled to come back. So, someone who’s fought with ISIL, with American passport wants to come back, we will track them very carefully,” said the FBI director.
