White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday detailed several incidents involving Afghan nationals who entered the United States during the Biden administration, saying the cases underscore what she described as serious failures in prior vetting procedures.
Leavitt referenced multiple individuals who arrived through Operation Allies Welcome, the 2021 program created under President Biden to resettle Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
According to Leavitt, one Afghan man who entered through the program shot and wounded two Fairfax County, Virginia police officers during a routine traffic stop. She said the suspect was killed by police return fire after allegedly stating, “I should have served with the Taliban.”
Leavitt also cited two Afghan nationals who received legal status under the Biden administration and were later arrested and prosecuted for plotting an attack in Oklahoma ahead of the 2024 election. Authorities previously stated the individuals possessed ammunition and had pledged allegiance to ISIS.
In another case she mentioned, an Afghan national who appeared on the terror watchlist was apprehended by Border Patrol in 2024 but was later released into the United States.
Leavitt said these incidents represent systemic vetting failures from the previous administration and emphasized that the current White House plans to prevent similar situations going forward.
Officials have not released additional details regarding policy changes or the status of ongoing reviews.
