Man Who Tried To Join ISIS Released, Will Move To Burnsville

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Abdullahi Yusuf was convicted of trying to join ISIS last year. On Thursday, he was released from a federal halfway house where he’s been since he was sentenced in November 2016. He plans to move to Burnsville to live with his parents.

A total of 11 Minnesotans were charged for supporting ISIS. Nine were sentenced, and two fled to join ISIS in Syria, according to the FBI.

While in the halfway house, Yusuf, 21, received counseling and mentoring, and was given an award for being a role model to other inmates. He is one of two Americans allowed to rejoin society after being convicted of trying to join ISIS.

According to his guilty plea, in April 2014, Yusuf applied for an expedited United States passport in Minneapolis. The following month, Yusuf attempted to travel from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport to Istanbul in order to join ISIS, according to authorities.

He was stopped at the airport by federal agents. After pleading guilty in 2015, Yusuf testified against his friends. According to Minnesota Public Radio, some members of the Somali community, including one imam, criticized Yusuf for helping the FBI’s case and called him a "snitch."

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis established the conditions of Yusuf’s release Thursday morning. Yusuf is prohibited from using social media and he must avoid reading material with extremist views. His internet activity will be monitored and authorities will track his movements using a GPS device for one year.

He can have no contact with journalists and cannot leave his parent’s house except for religious observance, school, or work.

After leaving the courtroom, Yusuf's parents thanked the FBI agents who arrested their son in 2014. They believe that by preventing him from leaving the country, the agents saved Yusuf's life, according to Star Tribune.

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