Washington, D.C.: U.S. Intelligence authorities have disclosed that 2,000 Afghan individuals presently residing in the United States possess direct or possible connections to terrorist groups.
In remarks to the press, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard condemned the vetting procedure for Afghan nationals who came into the country during the Biden administration via Operation Allies Welcome. She pointed out that about 18,000 Afghan nationals were admitted to the U.S. through the initiative, emphasizing that adequate screening was not carried out at that moment.
Gabbard revealed that every Afghan admitted through Operation Allies Welcome is undergoing a thorough check by different agencies, and they are all actively involved in the process.
Emphasizing the issue of security, she cautioned that bad actors like ISIS and other terrorist groups are always devising ways to carry out attacks on the U.S. mainland.
Another Afghan national with ISIS-K ties arrested by US authorities in Virginia
An Afghan national was arrested by US authorities in Waynesboro, Virginia, who is accused of providing material support to the terrorist banned group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorosan (ISIS-K).
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), made the announcement that HSI agents from ICE arrested Jaan Shah Safi, a citizen who is a suspect in the facilitation of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorosan (ISIS-K). Besides, Safi is charged with the provision of firearms to his father, who is a leader of a militia faction.
Safi, who arrived in the United States on September 8 2021 through President Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome had submitted a request, for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). His request was subsequently revoked after Secretary Noem discontinued TPS for Afghans. On December 3 2025 ICE, directed by President Trump and Secretary Noem carried out the detention.
Secretary Noem declared, “Today our brave ICE agents apprehended Jaan Shah Safi, a terrorist who supplied material assistance to ISIS-K. The Biden administration admitted this terrorist into the U.S. through the Operation Allies Welcome initiative. This terrorist was detained miles from our country’s capital, where National Guard personnel Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe were recently shot by another unchecked Afghan terrorist.”
She added that the Biden administration allowed nearly 190,000 unvetted Afghan nationals into the U.S., creating what she described as “one of the worst national security crises in American history.”
She emphasized that President Trump has been working since January 20 to address the issue, halting Afghan refugee resettlement and suspending Afghan entry to protect American citizens.
