Arrest Made of Afghan National Linked to Indecent Assault

An Afghan national, who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, has been taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after being convicted of indecent assault against a minor.

Bashir Ahmad Safi, in his 30s, was arrested by DHS on March 11. Before this conviction, he faced multiple charges, including lewd exhibition, attempting to solicit a child online, unlawful use of communication devices, and child abuse.

Safi was granted entry into the U.S. in 2021 as part of Operation Welcoming Allies, initiated by former President Biden. He was arrested in Florida’s Jacksonville in September 2023 on these allegations.

Lauren Biss, DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary, expressed criticism towards the Biden administration for permitting “this uninspected Afghan pedophile” to stay in the country. She argued that he should not have been allowed entry and emphasized the need for safeguarding innocent children.

DHS reported that Safi’s arrest was part of a joint operation involving Homeland Security Investigations in Jacksonville and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. At the time of his arrest, he was disbarred and in the U.S. illegally, according to DHS. Currently, he remains in ICE custody.

This incident follows a separate case involving another Afghan national, Rahmanullah Rakanwal, who, under Biden’s Operation Welcoming Allies, was charged with shooting and killing two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, succumbed to her injuries, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, survived but was significantly injured.

DHS revealed that Operation Welcoming Allies, which admitted nearly 190,000 Afghan nationals, did so through “unvetted referrals.” They indicated that individuals admitted included those with serious criminal backgrounds like terrorists and sex offenders.

Biss noted that former President Trump recognized these risks to national security, subsequently canceling Biden’s refugee resettlement strategy upon taking office and halting entries for Afghan nationals shortly after that.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, DHS has emphasized identifying and deporting individuals like Bashir Ahmad Safi who threaten public safety,” Biss remarked.

A representative for former President Biden has yet to respond regarding this situation.