Concerns Over Terrorism Threats Following Afghan Withdrawals

During a recent congressional session focused on global threats, Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), revealed alarming statistics regarding individuals entering the United States during the Biden administration, from 2021 to 2025. He indicated that around 18,000 “known and suspected terrorists” have made their way into the country.

Kent, a Trump appointee with a background as a Special Forces officer, emphasized that these individuals present a significant threat to the security of the U.S. homeland. He testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on December 11, explaining that many of those identified have connections to groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, typically disqualifying them from entry under regular vetting protocols. Yet, according to Kent, the Biden administration didn’t effectively uphold these standards.

During the hearing, Kent criticized the current administration’s handling of border security, suggesting that their policies have allowed individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list to enter the U.S., particularly in light of the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.

“So far, NCTC has identified around 18,000 known and suspected terrorists that the Biden administration let come into our country,” he stated, adding, “We’ve identified 2,000 of that group … who have ties to terrorist organizations. That is probably the top terrorist threat that we face right now.”

He continued, expressing concern that this figure does not account for those who might have crossed the border illegally, a number that remains frustratingly unclear.

Kent also attributed the tragic shooting of two National Guard members around Thanksgiving to the administration’s policies, which enabled Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s entry. Lakanwal, who came to the U.S. under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome, had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, conducting special operations.

“The Biden administration not only let them into the country… just like the entry of the Afghan terrorists who committed the terrorist attack here just before Thanksgiving,” he remarked.

He highlighted that, despite Lakanwal’s previous approval to work alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan, he managed to live in the U.S. without undergoing the necessary vetting process.

“These individuals, despite what has been reported, were not vetted properly to come into the United States,” Kent asserted. “The individual terrorist who committed the attack in D.C., he was vetted to serve as a soldier in Afghanistan.”

Following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, about 200,000 Afghans were relocated to the United States, with around 76,000 arriving during the initial effort under humanitarian grounds. The impact of these policies continues to raise questions about national security and the adequacy of the vetting procedures in place.