Mass. GOP: Sanctuary Policies a Problem After Jordan Drone Strike

The Massachusetts GOP on Tuesday called the "sanctuary city" policies a problem after it was reported on Monday that two Iranian men were found to have ties to a fatal drone strike that killed several United States military servicemen in Jordan earlier this year.

"The language used by Massachusetts Democratic leaders in describing our state as a sanctuary to the international community and that they won't cooperate with federal authorities, sends a dangerous signal to bad actors around the world. It tells them that Massachusetts is a safe haven where they can evade prosecution from the United States federal government," MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said in a statement.

"It's time for the Healey-Driscoll Administration to stand with the people of Massachusetts and declare that our state will no longer serve as a sanctuary for criminals whether they're here legally or illegally. For the safety and security of our communities, Massachusetts must send a clear message: there is no sanctuary for international criminals in our Commonwealth," she added.

On Monday, the FBI's Boston division arrested two Iranian men, Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi (Abedini), 38, of Tehran, Boston's WCVB reported.

The Department of Justice announced that the two were charged in federal court with conspiring to export electronic components from the U.S. to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws. Abedini was also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

On Jan. 28, three U.S. servicemen were killed during a drone strike in Jordan; 40 others were reported to have sustained injuries due to the strike. The Department of Defense believes that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia from Iraq, was behind the attack.

• Pentagon: US Thwarts Multiple Drone Attacks in Iraq
• Report: Drone That Killed 3 in Jordan Likely Was Undetected