A "dozen or so" Americans fighting for the Islamic State (ISIS) have been identified and will be placed under intense scrutiny if they return to the United States, FBI Director James Comey told CBS' "60 Minutes"in an interview to be aired Sunday.
"Ultimately, an American citizen, unless their passport is revoked, is entitled to come back,"
Comey said to newsman Scott Pelley.
"So someone who has fought with ISIL, with an American passport, wants to come back, we will track them very carefully."
Comey said he is aware of about “a dozen or so” Americans who have joined the vicious group of Islamic extremists.
In recent months, the world has watched in horror as the group has slaughtered Christians, beheaded journalists, sold young kidnapped women as sex slaves and threatened the United States with destruction.
Its ultimate goal is to create a worldwide caliphate controlled by a single Muslim religious leader.
Comey told Pelly he can't guarantee there may be more traitorous Americans that the FBI does not yet know about, but those who have been identified are on the radar.
Earlier this month on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, Rep. Ron DeSantis said
Congress should cancel the passports of Americans and Westerners looking to join the Islamic State to combat the growing terror.
In the "60 Minutes" interview, Comey also spoke about the looming threat of cybercrime and how most Americans are not wary enough about it.
One of the top priorities for the FBI is to improve its capability against such cybercrimes as ID theft and industrial espionage, Comey said.
Cybercrime has been on the rise and financial gurus have urged investors to be proactive in protecting their assets, financial experts warn. Cybersecurity has also become a major issue for banks, brokers and asset managers.
The Comey interview will be aired Sunday, Oct. 5 (7:30-8:30 p.m., ET; 7-8 p.m., PT) on CBS.
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