The arrest of an Afghan national on suspicion of plotting an Election Day terror plot could further increase the potential for terrorism as part of tens of thousands of people who came to the U.S. after withdrawing from Afghanistan, Congress says. Lawmakers are becoming increasingly concerned. .
“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.
Last week, authorities announced the arrest of Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi, an Afghan national who came to the United States in 2021 after withdrawing from Afghanistan. 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. Authorities say he liquidated his family's assets to finance the plan, including buying a rifle and a one-way ticket to return to Afghanistan for his wife and children.
Mayorkas refuses to answer questions about Afghanistan, suspected election day terrorist plot
Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi is seen making the 'Tawhid' gesture. (Ministry of Justice)
“This defendant was motivated by ISIS and allegedly conspired to carry out a violent attack here in our country on Election Day,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.
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.
A senior government official told Fox News last week that Tawhidi had been tested 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. Authorities believe he became radicalized after coming to the United States
Afghan national accused of election-day terrorist plot, renewing fears of scrutiny
There is also no indication that there were any red flags at any point in the process that should have barred him. The alleged co-conspirator in the case entered the country in 2018 and passed the test for a green card.
Tawhidi entered the country during a mass evacuation operation when the Taliban took back Afghanistan. The United States continues to host more than 97,000 evacuees, approximately 77,000 of whom were admitted on humanitarian parole through a program called Operation Welcoming Allies.
Republicans and the Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog agency have repeatedly raised questions about the vetting process for Afghan nationals, and last week's arrests only added to those concerns.
“After the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan, we knew there was no real vetting process for Afghan nationals coming into the United States. There was great concern about possible terrorist plots against the homeland. It’s an administration issue,” said Rep. Byron Donald, R-Florida. “There's no accountability, there's no serious plan, and it's frankly covering up a crisis that's happening right in front of the American people.”
An Afghan man from Oklahoma planned an election-day terrorist attack in the country on behalf of ISIS, the Justice Department says.
President Biden appeared at a surprise press conference and attempted to connect his administration with Kamala Harris' position. (Getty Images/Pool)
The Biden administration has repeatedly defended the vetting process, saying it is a multi-layered process that includes classified and unclassified reviews, such as reviews of Pentagon and FBI databases, Interpol notifications and other information. insisted.
“Afghan evacuees who sought admission to the United States were subject to multiple layers of screening and scrutiny by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism intelligence agencies,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Wednesday. “If new information becomes available after arrival, we will respond appropriately.”
Both Oklahoma senators have been briefed by the FBI on the matter. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) also emphasized the dangers facing the country.
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“This is real. And there are people within our own country who are trying to kill us. They have a plan,” Lankford told Fox News. “Open borders are dangerous. We're already seeing it, and we're living on borrowed time right now.”
FOX News' Jackie Heinrich contributed to this report.
