Government agencies are under fire over how an Afghan man now charged with planning an election day terrorist attack was allowed into the United States and when he allegedly became radicalized . Lawmakers are seeking more information.
Last week, authorities announced the arrest of Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi on suspicion of planning a polling day terrorist attack inspired by ISIS.
Tauhedi is charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and receiving a firearm for use in the commission of a felony or federal crime of terrorism. He liquidated his family's assets to finance the plan, including buying a rifle and a one-way ticket for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan, according to court documents.
Afghanistan indicted for election day terror plot, questions and concerns from lawmakers: 'This is real'
Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi is seen making the 'Tawhid' gesture in the photo. (Ministry of Justice)
Tauhedi came to the United States in September 2021 during a mass evacuation operation in which the Taliban retook Afghanistan. The United States continues to host more than 97,000 Afghan refugees, approximately 77,000 of whom were admitted on humanitarian parole.
Court filings initially said he came on a special immigrant visa, but later revealed he came to the U.S. on humanitarian parole and later applied for SIV status. Parole requires a less stringent review than the SIV process.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas initially declined to answer questions at a White House briefing last week. but, government official Tawhidi told Fox News that it was shown three times. He was first tested to work as a CIA security guard in Afghanistan, then tested for humanitarian parole to enter the United States in 2021, at which time he was screened and tested in a third country. He was then tested and approved for special immigration status. His status has not yet been finalized.
Officials believe he became radicalized after coming to the United States and said there were no red flags that would prevent him from entering the country.
But then a government blame game began over the question of when he became radicalized. Fox News is told that the FBI is still taking a closer look at when he was radicalized and whether he fell into the cracks.
“The Department of Homeland Security is in direct conflict with the State Department in terms of who vetted who,” Rep. Michael Walz (R-Florida) told Fox News. “I think all of us involved know that the vetting wasn't what it should have been. They got rid of a lot of the wrong people and left behind the right people.”
DHS said it did everything by the book.
Mayorkas refuses to answer questions about Afghanistan, suspected election day terrorist plot
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a briefing at the White House on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“When we vet an individual, and when we vet an individual, what we focus on is the process of testing and vetting at that point. If we receive information that suggests this, we will take appropriate law enforcement action, which is exactly what we did in this case,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on CBS News this weekend. Asked about radicalization, Mayorkas said he would not discuss it because it is an “ongoing investigation.”
Fox News reported Monday that two Oklahoma senators have received briefings from the Justice Department, but Rep. Stephanie Bice has not, complaining about a lack of information. Tawhidi was arrested in Oklahoma.
After the meeting, both senators expressed concern that a new attack could be on the horizon.
Afghan national accused of election-day terrorist plot, renewing fears of scrutiny
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) criticized left-wing media and suggested they were defending the Biden administration on withdrawing from Afghanistan. (Fox News)
“There was a vulnerability left that could be exploited, in this case by ISIS. Next could be the Taliban, could be some other terrorist organization. And what I fear is …This just means that there are probably dozens, if not hundreds, more people in the same situation,” said Sen. Mark Wayne Mullin (Senator Mark Wayne Mullin). (R-Okla.) told Fox News.
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Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) told Fox News: “This is real. And there are people in our country who are trying to kill us. They have plans. ” he said. “Open borders are dangerous. We're already seeing it, and we're living on borrowed time right now.”
Fox News' Chad Pergram and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.
