Washington Insider on Unvetted Afghan Terrorist

WASHINGON – A senior intelligence official from the Trump administration revealed Friday that the Afghan terrorist who fatally shot two National Guard soldiers was “not vetted” before his entry into the United States in 2021.

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, stated on X that the responsibility for the lack of vetting of Rahmanullah Rakanwal lies with the Biden administration. This oversight contributed to the death of security guard Sarah Beckstrom.

“During Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the administration overlooked prior screening standards that were essential for special immigrant visas. They disregarded basic safety screenings and concerns for American citizens, allowing individuals direct entry into the U.S.,” Kent remarked.

“Consequently, over 85,000 Afghans entered the country without the comprehensive vetting that typically safeguards us,” he added, emphasizing the great risks associated with this approach.

Kent highlighted that more than 2 million individuals have entered the country, noting a significant rise in arrivals from Muslim-majority countries, often without proper oversight during a time of unprecedented border crossings.

“This combination is perilously dangerous,” Kent concluded.

In the wake of the shooting incident, he criticized the vetting process, stating that the suspects were “only screened for their roles as soldiers combating the Taliban, AQ, and ISIS in Afghanistan, yet not assessed for their suitability to integrate into American society as neighbors or potential citizens.”