{"id":2579844,"date":"2026-03-14T12:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T16:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/old-dominion-university-shooter-should-have-lost-citizenship-guy-benson\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T12:01:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T16:01:37","slug":"old-dominion-university-shooter-should-have-lost-citizenship-guy-benson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/old-dominion-university-shooter-should-have-lost-citizenship-guy-benson\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Dominion University shooter should have lost citizenship: Guy Benson"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fold-dominion-university-shooter-should-have-lost-citizenship-guy-benson%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2579844&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Examiner senior columnist Guy Benson argues that the Old Dominion University shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh-a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone who spent six years in the Virginia National Guard-should have been denaturalized after attempting to join ISIS. Jalloh killed one person and injured two during the ODU incident and was killed in the shooting; Benson points out that he had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-man-sentenced-to-prison-for-synagogue-bomb-plot\/\" title=\"Colorado Man Sentenced To Prison For Synagogue Bomb Plot\">previously pleaded guilty<\/a> in 2017 to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >providing material support<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-military-begins-launching-strikes-as-assad-flees-syria\/\" title=\"US Military Begins Launching Strikes as Assad Flees Syria\">terrorist institution<\/a>, for which he received an 11-year sentence and five years of supervised release before being released in 2024. Benson contends that citizenship should not be an \u201copen-ended right\u201d for someone who tried to join a terrorist group, calling for denaturalization and earlier deportation as policy. FBI director Kash Patel described the attack as an act of terrorism, reinforcing the article\u2019s focus on tightening responses to terrorism linked to naturalized citizens. The piece situates this case within a broader debate about immigration policy and denaturalization.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Old Dominion University shooter should have been denaturalized: Guy Benson<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2530889\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> senior columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/guy-benson\/\">Guy Benson<\/a> argued the shooter at Old Dominion University should have lost his citizenship after he tried to join <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ISIS\/\">ISIS<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Authorities identified <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4490413\/old-dominion-shooting-suspect-isis\/\">Mohamed Bailor Jalloh<\/a> as the suspect in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4489898\/gunman-dead-two-injured-shooting-old-dominion-university\/\">shooting at Old Dominion University<\/a> that left one victim dead and two injured on Thursday. Jalloh was also killed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4491646\/doj-charge-virginia-man-illegal-armed-old-dominion-university-shooter\/\">DOJ charges Virginia man with illegally arming Old Dominion University shooter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4491017\/fbi-michigan-synagogue-attack-targeted-act-violence\/\">FBI is investigating Michigan synagogue attack as a targeted act of violence. What to know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4490857\/nancy-guthrie-kidnapper-sheriff-could-strike-again\/\">Sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie case says kidnapper could &#8216;absolutely&#8217; strike again<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;What on Earth are we doing in this country?&rdquo; Benson said on Fox News&rsquo; <em>America&rsquo;s Newsroom<\/em> on Friday. &ldquo;I feel like, yes, he became a citizen; what is the argument? I&rsquo;m genuinely curious, what is the argument against denaturalizing someone who was welcomed into this country, then chose to go to try to join ISIS?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\"><strong>TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE&rsquo;S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Why was he still here?&rdquo; Benson asked.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3426828&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=78da712ec7d10906d52082a973492306\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sierra-leone\/\">Sierra Leone<\/a> who spent six years in the Virginia National Guard, pleaded guilty in 2017 for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Jalloh was released in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Benson said Jalloh &ldquo;forfeited his right&rdquo; to his citizenship after he tried to join ISIS.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If this person is guilty of trying to join ISIS, why don&rsquo;t we put him in prison for as long as humanely possible and as soon as we know that prison sentence is expiring, we get him on the first plane out back to wherever he came from,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Whatever country that might be.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Kash-Patel\/\">Kash Patel <\/a>said the shooting at Old Dominion University is being investigated as an act of terrorism.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Benson said Jalloh&rsquo;s citizenship should not have been an &ldquo;open-ended right.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4491616\/terrorist-attacks-fuel-crackdown-legal-immigration\/\"><strong>TERRORIST ATTACKS FUEL GOP PUSH TO CRACK DOWN ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That person should have absolutely forfeited his right to remain an American citizen,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is not some open-ended right that he has forever, or at least it should not be.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I genuinely do not understand what is the argument against denaturalizing someone like that,&rdquo; Benson added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nWashington Examiner columnist Guy Benson argued that Mohamed Bailor Jalloh-the Old Dominion University shooter-should have had his U.S. citizenship denaturalized after trying to join ISIS. Jalloh, a Sierra Leonean naturalized citizen and former Virginia National Guard member, had pleaded guilty in 2017 to providing material support to a terrorist organization, receiving an 11-year sentence with five years of supervised release; he was released in 2024. Benson claimed he forfeited his citizenship and should have been deported once his sentence ended. The FBI is investigating the ODU shooting as an act of terrorism, and Jalloh was killed in the attack, which left one person dead and two injured.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline:<br \/>\nODU shooter should&#8217;ve been denaturalized, Benson says<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2579845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26071605691761.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7161,74971,75800,4300],"class_list":["post-2579844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-citizenship","tag-guybenson","tag-odu","tag-shooting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26071605691761.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579844"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579848,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579844\/revisions\/2579848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2579845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}