Yusra Ismail, Misuse of Passport, Minnesota 2014

Yusra Ismail, a 20-year-old woman from Saint Paul, Minnesota, has been charged with stealing and misusing a passport to travel to Syria. According to court documents, Ismail visited a friend’s home on August 18, 2014, and asked to see her passport.

Before leaving her friend’s home, Ismail surreptitiously took the passport and subsequently left. Three days later, Ismail asked a different friend to drive her to Minneapolis/Saint Paul airport, from which she departed on a flight bound for Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She later traveled from Amsterdam to Oslo, Norway.

According to court documents, Ismail contacted members of her family on August 24, 2014, and told one or more of them that she was in ‘Sham,’ which is a term commonly used to describe the area within Syria and Iraq where the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is attempting to establish a caliphate.

There is no record that Ismail, who is not a United States citizen, has lawfully returned to the United States. The charges against Ismail are the result of an investigation conducted by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Defendant Information:

• Yusra Ismail, 20, Saint Paul, Minn.

Charges:

• Misuse of Passport, 1 count

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

As the investigation continues, authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Ismail, who is considered a fugitive. Anyone with information regarding Ismail’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case is a stark reminder of the serious consequences of passport misuse and the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism.

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