A senior official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported that nearly 2,000 Afghans in the United States have connections to known or suspected terrorist organizations. This information was shared in the context of Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in August 2021 to resettle Afghan nationals following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. According to the official, approximately 3,000 known jihadists and 17,000 individuals with suspected terrorist ties have been identified among the Afghan evacuees.

The program has been criticized following incidents involving Afghan nationals, including a shooting that injured two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. The alleged shooter was identified as an Afghan national who entered the U.S. under this program. Reports indicate that over 1,400 Afghans with links to various terrorist organizations, including ISIS, were admitted into the U.S. under the Biden administration. Additionally, a significant number of migrants from Central Asia were reportedly smuggled into the U.S. through networks associated with ISIS, raising further concerns about security and vetting processes.

The vetting procedures for Afghan evacuees have been described as less rigorous than those in place prior to the Biden administration, which typically required extensive background checks. The current vetting process has been criticized for prioritizing speed over thoroughness, potentially compromising national security. The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) has indicated that it warned the Biden administration about potential threats but claims that these warnings were not adequately addressed.

In response to these developments, former President Donald Trump has called for a comprehensive review of all Afghan migrants admitted under the Biden administration, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens. The NCTC is currently working to identify individuals with known or suspected links to terrorism to assist in removal efforts, highlighting ongoing concerns about the implications of rapid resettlement policies on national security.