The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has disclosed that approximately 18,000 individuals identified as "known or suspected terrorists" have entered the United States through the U.S.-Mexico border during President Joe Biden's administration. This information was presented to Congress by Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), who expressed concerns regarding the implications of these border policies on national security.

Kent highlighted that many of these individuals would typically be barred from entry due to their affiliations with extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. He criticized the Biden administration for allegedly facilitating the entry of these individuals, particularly through initiatives like Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to resettle Afghan nationals in the U.S. following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

According to Kent, the vetting process for these Afghan nationals was insufficient, leading to the admission of individuals with potential terrorist connections. He noted that out of 88,000 Afghans brought to the U.S. under this operation, approximately 2,000 have been identified as having ties to terrorist organizations. Kent stated that efforts are underway in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate these cases further.

Recent incidents involving Afghan nationals, including a shooting in Washington, D.C., and a planned attack in Oklahoma, have raised alarms about the effectiveness of the vetting process and the potential risks associated with the current immigration policies. These events underscore the ongoing debate regarding national security and the complexities of humanitarian immigration efforts.