Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has issued a stern warning regarding the potential national security threats posed by the Biden administration’s resettlement of unvetted Afghan refugees.
This warning comes in the wake of a detailed report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General, which highlights significant lapses in the vetting process for nearly 100,000 Afghans relocated to the United States since 2021.
In his letters to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray, Grassley demanded transparency about the number of Afghan evacuees who were inadequately vetted and may pose a security risk.
He requested specific information about actions taken to monitor and address these concerns, stressing the urgent need for public accountability. Grassley’s inquiries emphasize the gravity of the situation, seeking answers on how many evacuees are currently deemed national security concerns and whether their whereabouts are known.
“Unfortunately, this report confirms the concerns I, and my colleagues, outlined previously — that the Biden administration failed to properly vet Afghan evacuees,” Grassley wrote:
Specifically, the report notes DHS has a “fragmented process for identifying and resolving issues for noncitizens with derogatory information, including Operation Allies Welcome parolees.” Further, DHS’s approach “creates potential gaps in CBP, USCIS, and ICE’s responsibility for terminating parole, initiating removal proceedings, or monitoring parole expiration.”
The report also noted the FBI’s refusal to provide U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with full access to its National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (Triple I) System. According to the DHS OIG report, this refusal was because “the FBI does not consider USCIS a criminal justice agency and deems immigration and naturalization issues as noncriminal justice matters.” The DHS OIG report also found that OAW parolees “were later convicted of committing crimes such as abusive sexual contact with a minor, indecent exposure, sexual assault, auto grand larceny, assault, and battery.” The Biden administration’s failure to properly vet evacuees and the FBI’s concurrent failure to provide full access to the Triple I system have put American communities at risk.
The DHS Inspector General’s report corroborates Grassley’s concerns, revealing systemic failures in the vetting process. It cites cases where evacuees, later convicted of crimes such as sexual assault and child sex offenses, were not thoroughly screened before being resettled across American communities. The report criticizes DHS’s fragmented approach to identifying and resolving issues with noncitizens, including those under Operation Allies Welcome parolees. Furthermore, it highlights the FBI’s refusal to grant the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) full access to the National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index, impeding effective background checks.
Grassley’s critique is grounded in documented incidents where Afghan refugees with significant derogatory information were inadequately screened and subsequently committed crimes within the United States. The DHS report details how the FBI’s refusal to share critical information with USCIS has exacerbated these issues, leaving American communities vulnerable to potential threats.
Adding to the controversy, a former Department of Defense (DOD) official disclosed to Congress that some evacuees had histories of placing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) intended to harm American troops. This revelation underscores the dire consequences of insufficient vetting and the potential risks posed by inadequately screened individuals.
Grassley’s demands extend beyond mere accountability, calling for immediate action to rectify the situation. He insists that DHS and the FBI provide a detailed account of their efforts to monitor and manage Afghan evacuees deemed security concerns. The senator’s insistence on a comprehensive response by July 9 reflects the urgent need to address these national security lapses.
The large-scale resettlement operation, executed swiftly to accommodate the influx of Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, has been fraught with challenges. Reports of vetting failures have plagued the process from the outset, with many evacuees arriving without proper screening. In April 2023, congressional testimony revealed that some Afghans were admitted before being linked to hostile actions against American forces, further highlighting the inadequacies of the vetting process.
The DHS Inspector General’s report from September 2022 described how the Biden administration admitted Afghans to the U.S. without full vetting, raising alarms about potential risks to national security. Similarly, a February 2022 DOD report indicated that nearly 50 Afghans were identified as significant security concerns after their arrival, with many subsequently disappearing into American communities.
The persistent vetting failures have not gone unnoticed by other lawmakers. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) have also expressed concerns, citing whistleblower allegations that the Biden administration knowingly resettled nearly 400 Afghans identified as potential threats. These allegations, coupled with reports from Project Veritas, suggest a pattern of negligence in the vetting process, with serious implications for national security.
Despite these concerns, the Biden administration has been reticent to disclose the full extent of the vetting failures. Grassley’s call for transparency and accountability underscores the necessity of addressing these issues to protect American communities from potential threats. The senator’s actions reflect a broader concern within conservative circles about the implications of inadequately screened refugees on national security.
In essence, Grassley’s alarm highlights a critical need for robust vetting procedures to ensure the safety and security of American citizens. As the debate over refugee resettlement continues, the emphasis on stringent vetting and accountability remains paramount to mitigating potential risks.
Sponsors:
Huge Spring Sale Underway On MyPillow Products
Use Promo Code FLS At Checkout
Inflation Buster: Freedom From High-Cost Cell Plans (50% off first month with promo code: FLS)
Freedom From High-Cost Cell Plans Same Phones, Same Numbers, Same Coverage For About Half The Price.
Dan Veld