Afghan Evacuee Arrested for Alleged Terrorist Support

Federal officials have apprehended another Afghan evacuee, Jaan Shah Safi, on accusations of supporting a terrorist organization. The arrest took place in Waynesboro, Virginia, and was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Safi is suspected of providing assistance to ISIS-K, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

This marks the third Afghan national who was evacuated to the U.S. under a Biden administration plan and has been detained within just a week. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated, “Today, our brave ICE officers arrested Jaan Shah Safi, a terrorist who provided material support to ISIS-K.” She criticized the Biden administration for bringing Safi into the country through what she referred to as the disastrous Operation Welcoming Allies.

Noem emphasized the proximity of the arrest to significant recent events, noting it occurred not far from the nation’s capital where two National Guard members were tragically shot by another Afghan individual who had entered the country under similar circumstances.

Safi first arrived in the U.S. on September 8, 2021, with the intent to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which would protect him from deportation. However, his application was dropped after the administration ended TPS for Afghan nationals earlier this year.

In addition to his alleged connections to ISIS-K, Safi is also suspected of supplying weapons to his father, who is identified as a militia commander in Afghanistan.

Following a separate incident on November 26, another Afghan evacuee, Rahmanullah Rakanwal, opened fire on two National Guardsmen, resulting in the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and serious injuries to Air Force Chief of Staff Andrew Wolfe. This incident followed the arrest of Mohammad Dawood Alokozai, who faced charges related to a bomb threat in Texas.

Like Safi, both Rakanwal and Alokozai were also paroled into the U.S. under Operation Welcoming Allies. During the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan, the Biden administration admitted nearly 190,000 Afghan nationals, a number that the Trump administration argues lacks proper vetting.

Noem commented, “The Biden administration has created the worst national security crisis in American history,” asserting that nearly 190,000 Afghans were allowed into the country without adequate screening, discovering their intentions only after arrival.

In light of the recent events, the Trump administration has significantly tightened asylum processes for individuals from various countries labeled as “high risk” and has ceased immigration processing for those from 19 such nations. President Trump has also expressed intentions to limit immigration from certain regions.