U.S. President Donald Trump has said that a bomb attack by an immigrant from Bangladesh on New York's subway system showed the "urgent need" for Congress to reform the U.S. immigration system.
Three people were injured after the attacker's pipe bomb partially exploded on December 11. The suspect, Akayed Ullah, 27, was hospitalized with severe burns and wounds on his torso and hands.
New York police said Ullah had no previous criminal record, but he appeared to be radicalized by the Islamic State extremist group after coming to the United States in 2011.
"America must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country," Trump said later on December 11.
Trump said Ullah had entered the country through a legal process that allows the extended family members of U.S. citizens to obtain permanent U.S. residency.
Trump said such "chain migration" is "incompatible with national security" and must be stopped.
Trump, who campaigned on major cuts in immigration, previously called for immigration curbs after Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan, was charged with killing eight people and injuring 12 in an October 31 truck attack in New York.