The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that the parents of two suspects accused of planting explosives outside MacDill Air Force Base in Florida are undocumented immigrants.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote on X, "Automatically granting citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. is based on a historically inaccurate interpretation of the Citizenship Clause and poses a significant risk to national security."

The post stated, "Last week, that reality became clear when two children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. were charged with planting deadly explosives outside MacDill Air Force Base in Florida."

DHS concluded that this incident "demonstrates that illegal immigration and birthright citizenship pose a serious national security threat to the United States."

An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered on March 10 outside the visitor center at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. While known to be potentially lethal if detonated, the device thankfully did not explode.

According to Fox News, an Air Force servicemember discovered the bomb, six days after it was planted.

Siblings of Chinese descent, Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27, both U.S. born citizens, have been charged in connection with the incident.

Alen Zheng is accused of planting the explosives, while his older sister, Ann Mary Zheng, is accused of tampering with evidence and aiding in his escape, including selling the vehicle used in the crime.

According to the DHS announcement, their parents (Qiu Qin Zou, Jia Zhang Zheng) were in an undocumented status, having entered the country in 1993, applied for asylum, which was denied in 1998, and received an order of removal.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the parents' undocumented status during the investigation into their children's offenses and apprehended them on March 18, proceeding with their deportation.

Alen Zheng fled to China two days after the incident, on March 12, and is currently wanted. Ann Mary Zheng was arrested on March 17 upon her return to the U.S. at Detroit Airport after traveling to China.

The FBI and prosecutors are investigating whether the siblings have connections to foreign governments (such as China), but have stated that no clear evidence of external involvement has been found to date.

MacDill Air Force Base is currently home to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is conducting "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran.

The base also hosts U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which oversees all special operations forces under the Department of the Air Force.

U.S. NNP=Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special Correspondent for this newspaper NNP info@newsandpost.com