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Krishnamoorthi flags rising Islamophobia at 9/11 hearing
He also criticized the diversion of FBI counterterrorism resources toward immigration enforcement, saying it could weaken national security efforts.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 21, May 2026
- 13:00 EDT
- 66
US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / X/@CongressmanRaja
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on May 20 raised concerns over rising Islamophobia and antisemitism during a House intelligence hearing marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, days after three people were killed at a mosque in San Diego.
Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the committee, said anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States continues more than two decades after 9/11.
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“More than twenty years after 9/11 happened, Islamophobia in the U.S. has not gone away,” Krishnamoorthi said during the hearing. “Just this weekend, we saw the horrific killing of three people at a San Diego mosque.”
During the hearing, Krishnamoorthi asked witnesses whether they agreed that “Islamophobia and hate have no place in America,” drawing unanimous agreement.
Among the witnesses was Jamil Jaffer, who identified himself as Muslim and said antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate were rising simultaneously in the United States.
“As a Muslim, I don’t like Islamophobia,” Jaffer said. “We have seen a rise in both these trends — antisemitism and anti-Islamism — here in the United States.”
Jaffer added that “the same people who hate Jewish people hate Muslims just as much,” and said Americans were “stronger together than at each other’s throats.”
Krishnamoorthi also criticized rhetoric from some elected officials that equates Muslims with terrorism and calls for “more Islamophobia.”
“Hate has no place in America and it’s counter to all of our values,” he said.
The Illinois Democrat also raised concerns about the diversion of FBI counterterrorism resources toward immigration enforcement, arguing that the move could weaken national security efforts.
“It was a surprise to me that the FBI diverted counterterrorism efforts like the JTTFs to support the president’s immigration agenda,” Krishnamoorthi said.
Citing data obtained by Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Krishnamoorthi said nearly 45 percent of FBI agents in major field offices were reassigned from counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and related work to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
“And I think that’s just plain wrong,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I think it makes us less safe as a country.”
The remarks came after two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18, killing three people, including a mosque security guard who authorities said helped prevent a larger tragedy by alerting worshippers and students inside the building. Investigators said writings recovered from the attackers reflected extremist racial and religious hatred.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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