FBI chief admits 'extremely difficult' to identify IS recruits amid sea of Syria-bound people

Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has reportedly admitted that the task of indentifying every American who travels to Syria in response to the recruitment efforts by the Islamic State (IS) is "extremely difficult."

While addressing law enforcement and private security officials at a counterterrorism conference at Fordham Law School, Comey said that the FBI has identified some potential suspects who have gone overseas and returned but added that others will go undetected, reported The Washington Times.

The FBI chief explained that there are thousands of ways to get to Syria from the United States and the same number of ways to return. There are thousands of Americans who travel to Syria for all kinds of legitimate reasons everyday and therefore, tracking those who are responding to the IS recruitment calls is "extremely difficult," he said.

The statement came on the same day as Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced new restrictions on travelers from Europe and other countries for which visa is not required for U.S. entry.