(TLP:CLEAR) Research Report – Tracking U.S. Federal Cases Against the Islamic State Since 2014

Summary: The National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE), at the University of Nebraska, recently published an update to its research report, “Homegrown: U.S. Federal Cases Against ISIS (2014 – 2026),” which summarizes the scope of federal court cases related to the Islamic State in the U.S. since 2014.

Analyst Note: The most immediate international terrorist threat to the homeland remains individuals inspired by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), such as the Islamic State. According to the report, “since 2014, 280 individuals have been federally charged for [Islamic State]-related activity in the U.S. Defendants ranged from 17 to 56 years old with an average age of 27 years old. Of the defendants, 231 (82.50%) were U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents of the U.S.” Moreover, the vast majority of those charged are male (90.71%). As of September 1, 2026, 239 defendants (85.35%) have been found guilty or pled guilty to their charges.

Islamic State inspired plots remain a serious threat. In the past two months, there have been two publicly thwarted Islamic State-inspired plots in the U.S. homeland. On September 12, the FBI arrested a 21-year-old for allegedly plotting an Islamic State-inspired mass-casualty attack targeting Pittsburgh-area synagogues. Notably, in addition to conducting a mass shooting, the would-be terrorist allegedly planned to poison food and drinks at local synagogues or community events using toxins like ricin or cyanide.

Before that, the FBI arrested a 35-year-old woman on August 19, for plotting an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on the New York State Capitol. The attacker reportedly planned to detonate an explosive device while the legislature was in session to kill lawmakers and destroy as much of the building as possible. The woman was allegedly gathering materials to conduct the attack at the time of her arrest.

Original Sources:

• https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ncitereportsresearch/170/
• https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/butler-county-man-charged-receiving-firearm-and-ammunition-intent-commit-terrorism-behalf
• https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/albany-new-york-woman-charged-isis-inspired-terror-plot-targeting-new-york-state-capitol

Additional Reading:

• (TLP:AMBER) Government Reports Assess the Terrorist Threat Landscape on the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks
• Most ISIS-linked federal defendants are US citizens: Study

Mitigation Recommendations:

• US Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators 2021 Edition
• CISA – Personal Security Considerations Action Guide
• FBI Guidance on Keeping Potential Attackers off the ‘Pathway to Violence’

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 1, 2, 3, & 4