Security Concerns Rise as Thousands of Afghan Refugees Linked to Terrorism, Says Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, revealed that at least 2,000 Afghan refugees who entered the United States after the withdrawal of American forces in 2021 are either linked to terrorism or suspected of engaging in terrorist activities…

Identification of 2,000 Terrorism Suspects

Gabbard emphasized that the vast majority of Afghan refugees arriving in the U.S. have not undergone thorough security screening. She highlighted the serious security risks associated with this situation, stating that among these refugees, at least 2,000 have been identified as having connections to terrorists or being suspected of terrorism. A representative from the Director of National Intelligence’s office explained that these individuals were identified based on information gathered and assessed by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Gabbard announced that the U.S. government intends to re-evaluate all Afghan refugees who have entered the country in order to mitigate potential risks.

Suspension of Immigration Applications Following a Shooting Incident

Previously, U.S. immigration authorities announced a suspension of all immigration applications from Afghan refugees until further notice. This decision came after the shooting incident involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, who shot at two members of the National Guard. Lakanwal, 29, arrived in the U.S. in 2021 and was apprehended following the incident. The FBI is currently investigating whether the motives behind this shooting were of a terrorist or criminal nature. U.S. immigration officials cited the need for more thorough and detailed security reviews of Afghan cases as the reason for this action.