ICE Arrests Afghan National Linked to ISIS-K
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Jaan Shah Safi, an Afghan national suspected of being an ISIS-K supporter, in Waynesboro, Virginia. He had entered the U.S. under the Operations Welcome Allies directed by former President Biden.
These arrests come amid rising concerns, particularly from Trump and his administration, about increased terrorist incidents connected to Afghan arrivals during Biden’s time in office.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Safi arrived in Philadelphia on September 8, 2025, and sought Temporary Protected Status (TPS). However, his application was halted when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ended TPS for Afghans.
Reactions to the Arrest
ICE arrested Safi on December 3, 2025. Noem stated, “Today, our brave ICE officers arrested Jaan Shah Safi, a terrorist who provided material support to ISIS-K. The Biden administration brought this terrorist to the United States under the disastrous Operation Welcoming Allies. This capture occurred not far from our nation’s capital, shortly after another Afghan terrorist, also let in under this program, gunned down two National Guardsmen.”
Noem criticized the Biden administration for what she called a national security crisis, emphasizing that nearly 190,000 Afghan nationals were permitted into the U.S. without proper vetting, raising serious concerns over safety.
Ongoing Concerns and Previous Incidents
The DHS highlighted that this arrest marks the third Afghan national taken into custody in less than a week under the Biden administration. Concerns about the vetting process were amplified by the case of Rahmanullah Rakanwal, who allegedly attacked National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., shortly after being resettled under the same operation.
In another case, Mohammad Dawood Alokozai was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, accused of making bomb threats, with evidence like a TikTok video showcasing bomb-making. Alokozai, similarly connected to the Afghan resettlement program, now faces charges for threatening terror.
