Not sure what “islamist” is. Referring to muslim?
I live in Houston which means, due to the oil industry, there have always been a lot of Middle Easterners during my lifetime. Most Muslims once you get to know them, don’t care for Islam at all, but feel like they can’t leave because of family ties and fear of ostracization (or worse). An Islamist is anyone who actually believes in Islam, but many of the immigrants who came when America actually vetted people don’t, and you’d be surprised how many will actually admit it when they feel safe in private.