Afghan Evacuee Arrested on Terrorism Allegations
The Department of Homeland Security has apprehended another Afghan evacuee, Jaan Shah Safi, on accusations of supporting the terrorist organization ISIS-K.
Safi was taken into custody in Waynesboro, Virginia. He arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of a large-scale evacuation orchestrated by President Biden.
This arrest follows those of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is accused of killing a National Guard soldier and injuring another near the White House, and Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, who allegedly expressed intentions to carry out a suicide bombing in Texas.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the Biden administration for what she described as one of the worst national security crises in American history. All three individuals were part of the chaotic evacuation that left Afghanistan vulnerable to Taliban control during the summer of 2021.
Biden officials aimed to evacuate Afghans who had aided U.S. efforts during the war. However, reports indicate that many evacuees had no ties to U.S. operations and that inadequate vetting procedures allowed some individuals with questionable backgrounds to enter the country.
An inspector general’s report revealed that at least 82 individuals on terrorism watchlists gained entry into the U.S. during this airlift operation. This included 55 people already on such lists prior to summer 2021 and an additional 27 who were added after arriving in America.
There have been other instances involving Afghan evacuees with criminal backgrounds. Nasir Tawhedi, also evacuated in 2021, pleaded guilty to involvement in a plot for an Election Day shooting attack last year, which authorities managed to thwart before it could occur. Additionally, Shah Mahmood Selab was convicted for coercing a minor following an incident involving a young boy at a public park in New Mexico.
