DHS Inspector General Flags Vetting Mistakes in 40% of Afghan Asylum Files
A DHS inspector-general review found that 40% of asylum applications for Afghans under Operation Allies Welcome contained vetting errors, including missing aliases and security checks.
A Department of Homeland Security inspector-general audit of 678 asylum applications for Afghans admitted under the Operation Allies Welcome program revealed vetting deficiencies in 40% of the files. Errors included 303 missing aliases, 23 absent security checks and more than 150 other documentation issues, raising concerns that USCIS may have missed chances to connect applicants to negative intelligence. In two instances, the incomplete records involved persons who could have been barred on terrorism-related grounds, with one case lacking a required approval box and another missing supplemental paperwork.
The review was launched after USCIS staff warned that a 2023 settlement in Ahmed v. DHS forced faster processing than proper vetting allowed, though the IG found no statistically significant rise in errors after the settlement. USCIS director Joseph Edlow agreed to all five IG recommendations but argued that the errors occurred within an overall robust screening framework that limits any security impact. Republicans have long criticized the program, which has resettled over 70,000 Afghans, citing incidents such as the shooting by Rahmanullah Lakanwal near the White House.
Why it matters
The findings highlight potential security gaps in a major refugee resettlement program, affecting immigration oversight and public safety.
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