The Biden-Harris administration has now admitted that an Afghan national accused of planning an Election Day terrorist attack did not undergo certain vetting that it had previously claimed had passed.
Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi, 27, has not been reviewed or approved for Special Immigrant (SIV) status by the State Department, but officials at other agencies say he has passed that rigorous process. I was doing it.
In addition, people familiar with the investigation told Fox News that despite his security role with the CIA in Afghanistan, he was affiliated with the U.S. government when Tauhedi's government facilitated his departure to the province. He said it was not well known. Fox News has learned that Tawhidi was employed as a local security guard outside the base's boundaries and was not one of the most thoroughly vetted U.S. partners.
The news contradicts an official's claim last week that Tauhedi had been vetted three times, first while working for the CIA in Afghanistan and then leaving on humanitarian parole with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I came to the United States during that time, and the third time was while I was returning home. Receive approval for Special Immigrant (SIV) status upon arrival in the United States
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A photo of Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi and his children taken in July. There, he is said to have explained to his daughter and another child about the “rewards that martyrs receive in the afterlife.” (Ministry of Justice)
Officials now acknowledge that Taweedi was not vetted or approved for Special Immigrant (SIV) status, an exhaustive State Department process that can take years to complete. . Despite what a DHS case officer told investigators, the State Department has long maintained it had no role in Tawhidi's refugee status, leading to inaccurate references in the Justice Department's criminal complaint. Connected.
Last week, Biden administration officials defended the error, saying Taweedi initially entered the country on DHS humanitarian parole (which had its own review process), but then applied for SIV status, was reassessed, and He explained that it was cleared. Those officials have now admitted that the claim was false, and that Mr. Tawedi was not tested or approved for SIV.
But authorities now say Tauhedi underwent “repeated” testing under Operation Welcoming Allies as part of the Department of Homeland Security's humanitarian parole, raising new questions. .
DHS has repeatedly said no red flags were identified at any point in Taweedi's review, but three officials strongly disputed that DHS characterized the review process as “thorough.” .
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Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi is seen making the 'Tawhid' gesture in the photo. (Ministry of Justice)
According to a 2022 DHS Inspector General report, DHS did not provide data or evidence to support the claim that “a periodic review process was established for all paroled Afghan evacuees during their parole period.” Ta. The report also notes that DHS admits or paroles evacuees who have not been adequately screened to enter the United States, but in many cases information such as name, date of birth, identification number, and travel document data is was used to vet evacuees through a U.S. government database. It was inaccurate, incomplete, or missing.
A 2022 audit by the DHS Office of Inspector General found 417 records with unknown first names, 242 records with unknown last names, and 11,110 records with date of birth as “January 1.” It became clear. Additionally, 36,400 travel records had “facilitation document” listed as the document type, and 7,800 records had invalid or missing document numbers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not maintain a list of individuals who were granted parole or entry into the country without proper identification.
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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)
Recurrence testing was initiated by CBP for Operation Allies Welcome before parolees arrive in the United States. CBP will transfer historical information collected during the initial screening and vetting process to the National Veterinary Center (NVC) and designated review support agencies outside of DHS for re-examination of sensitive information in the NVC and VSA data holdings. (VSA).
DHS said in its 2024 final report that “National Review Center relapse reviews are ongoing and active for all OAW parolees,” but the agency told Fox News that “This is a check at the time police assess available information.” the US government at the time. ”
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DHS says, “If an individual who enters this country is later found to be associated with information that indicates a potential national security or public safety concern, DHS and our federal partners will investigate and We will take appropriate measures in line with our mission to protect our homeland.”
Prosecutors allege Tawhidi obtained firearms and ammunition to carry out violent attacks on U.S. soil and took numerous steps to prepare for the alleged conspiracy. He 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.
Investigators are still working to determine whether Tawdy became radicalized before or after coming to the United States.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casioano and David Spunt contributed to this report.
