According to data from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by the Post, over 5,000 Afghans resettled in the U.S. after the troop withdrawal were flagged for “national security” concerns.
In total, federal officials reported “potentially derogatory information” on 6,868 individuals who arrived from Afghanistan as part of President Biden’s Operation Welcome Allies in 2021.
Among these, 5,005 had national security issues, 956 faced “public safety” issues, and 876 were suspected of fraud, as indicated by the data.
Following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members, allegedly by Rahmanullah Rakanwar, a significant investigation is ongoing into over 6,000 Afghan refugees who have “potentially derogatory information” in their records.
The DHS disclosed this information to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after he raised concerns in May 2024.
While various agencies have addressed many flagged cases, as of September, 885 individuals still had concerning information that could threaten national security.
In response to the incident involving National Guard members in Washington, D.C., President Trump has ordered a review of the security protocols and vetting processes for immigrants from 19 “high-risk” countries, including those previously approved for asylum under the former administration.
This alarming figure surfaced shortly after the tragic event where Rahmanullah Rakanwal allegedly killed Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Guardsman Andrew Wolf, 24, in critical condition.
Grassley has consistently urged the FBI and DHS about evident “red flags” related to the evacuation of over 70,000 Afghans after the abrupt troop withdrawal in 2021.
In a letter sent to lawmakers on September 9, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the agency faced challenges in fully screening and vetting all evacuees.
Grassley noted, “Despite considerable pushback from the Biden administration and many of my colleagues in Congress, I’ve spent years highlighting the lax review standards for Operation Welcoming Allies.” He expressed his concerns were only intensified by the recent tragedy, appreciating the Trump administration’s review efforts following the chaos of the withdrawal.
A report from the DHS Inspector General revealed that the process for addressing potential security threats in the program was quite fragmented.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s Inspector General disclosed that as of May 2023, 55 individuals had reached U.S. shores while on the terrorist watch list, with some added during the evacuation process.
The IG emphasized that urgency during the evacuation overshadowed the normal vetting procedures, increasing the risk of allowing criminals to take advantage of the expedited evacuation.
As the report was being compiled, the IG’s office noted the federal government has charged two Afghan nationals, Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi and Abdullah Haji Zada, with plotting to disrupt the 2024 elections in Oklahoma City inspired by ISIS.
Tauhedi, who entered the U.S. under a special immigrant visa in 2021, acquired weapons and ammunition in 2024 and pled guilty to providing material support to ISIS, potentially facing up to 35 years in prison. Zada, aged 19, has been sentenced to 15 years.
Tauhedi reportedly served as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe commented that following the November 26 incident involving the Guards, it was revealed that Rakanwal had links to the agency while in Afghanistan, stating he “should never have been allowed to enter the U.S.”
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker expressed that those who collaborate often have dual motives, questioning the vetting process: “We need analysts or agents to critically assess all findings and establish objective disqualification criteria.”
