Two men from the Middle East who went to the United States as refugees three years ago, were arrested on terrorism charges, officials said on Thursday. The men were arrested in Sacramento and Houston, and were not involved in any terror plots, but may have been in contact with each other, an official told Reuters.

Both men are Palestinians born in Iraq. Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, went to America from Syria in 2012, and Omar Faraj Saeed Al-Hardan entered the US in 2009. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the arrests are a reason why Texas sought to prevent refugees from resettling in the state. Many Republicans have cautioned US President Barack Obama against allowing Syrian refugees into the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Al-Jayab has lied about travelling back to Syria and also about posting his support for what the government called terrorist groups on social media. Al-Hardan was charged with providing material support to the Islamic State group, and lying about links to the group when applying for US citizenship.