The report addresses the urgent and growing threat of terrorist travel by Americans to Syria and Iraq. Despite the government’s efforts to control this travel, hundreds of Americans have attempted to reach the conflict zones to join the jihadists. Using numerous briefings, interviews, site visits, and document analysis, the Task Force makes thirty-two key findings dealing with government strategy, identification of terrorists, and disruption of foreign fighter travel, including: Key Finding 1: The United States lacks a comprehensive strategy for combating terrorist and foreign fighter travel. Key Finding 14: State and local law enforcement personnel continue to express concern that they are not provided with the appropriate security clearances to assist with counterterrorism challenges. Key Finding 25: “Broken travel” and other evasive tactics are making it harder to track foreign fighters. Key Finding 29: Gaping security weaknesses overseas—especially in Europe—are putting the U.S. homeland in danger by making it easier for aspiring foreign fighters to migrate to terrorist hotspots and for jihadists to return to the West. Introductory remarks by security experts accompany the text and place these findings and recommendations in their proper context, explaining the critical need for effective strategy in combating terrorist travel from the United States.

Today we are witnessing the largest global convergence of jihadists in history, as individuals from more than 100 countries have migrated to the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq since 2011. These fighters pose a serious threat to the United States and its allies. Armed with combat experience and extremist connections, many of them are only a plane-flight away from our shores. Even if they do not return home to plot attacks, foreign fighters have taken the lead in recruiting a new generation of terrorists and are seeking to radicalize Westerners online to spread terror back home. The Task Force makes 32 key findings and provides accompanying recommendations.

Today we are witnessing the largest global convergence of jihadists in history, as individuals from more than 100 countries have migrated to the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq since 2011. Over 25,000 foreign fighters have traveled to the battlefield to enlist with Islamist terrorist groups, including at least 4,500 Westerners. More than 250 individuals from the U.S. have also joined or attempted to fight with extremists in the conflict zone. These fighters pose a serious threat to the U.S. and its allies. The House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee established the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel in March 2015. This is the final report of the Task Force, which makes 32 key findings and provides accompanying recommendations. Figures and table. This is a print on demand report.

The Task Force's final report is divided into two primary sections. The Introduction provides background on the foreign fighter phenomenon, an assessment of why it is a threat to the United States, and an analysis of 58 case studies of Americans who traveled or attempted to travel to fight in Syria and Iraq. The Key Findings & Recommendations section outlines the Task Force's main conclusions and is sub-divided into four parts: (1) U.S. government strategy and planning to combat the threat; (2) efforts to identify terrorist and foreign fighters -- and prevent them from traveling; (3) efforts to detect and disrupt terrorists and foreign fighters when they travel; and (4) overseas security gaps.