On December 3, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Jaan Shah Safi, an Afghan national, into custody. He is suspected of supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and supplying weapons to his father, a commander of a militia group in Afghanistan. This arrest highlights ongoing concerns about security related to the Biden administration’s ‘Operation Allies Welcome,’ which allowed Afghan nationals to enter the United States after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has labeled Safi as an “illegal alien terrorist.” He arrived in the U.S. on September 8, 2021, under the contentious operation. His application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was denied after Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the program for Afghans. On the same day of Safi’s arrest, Noem described the incident as a manifestation of the national security crisis stemming from the earlier administration’s policies. She stated, “Today, our heroic ICE officers arrested Jaan Shah Safi, a terrorist who provided material support to ISIS-K.”
This incident is part of a troubling trend. In the week leading up to Safi’s arrest, two other Afghan nationals—one of whom shot two National Guard members near the White House—were apprehended. This raises questions about the vetting processes during the expedited evacuation of Afghans. The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly displayed a history of troubling behavior, which went unaddressed due to inadequate background checks. Similarly, another Afghan national, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, was arrested for making bomb threats shortly after entering the country.
President Trump reacted sternly to these developments. He emphasized the urgent need to reexamine all Afghan nationals who were allowed into the country since Biden took office. He remarked, “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.” This indicates a call for thorough scrutiny of immigration policies that have raised significant national security concerns.
The accountability narrative continues. Critics argue that nearly 190,000 unvetted Afghan nationals were brought into the United States, highlighting that their backgrounds were only reviewed once they were already on American soil. This systematic oversight has profound implications for public safety and trust in the immigration process.
With a focus on security and the vetting process—key tenets in discussions surrounding immigration—the situation remains fluid and deeply concerning. The ramifications of the arrests and the broader national security implications will likely resonate in the ongoing debates about immigration policy and America’s approach to refugees and asylum seekers.
Safi’s case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate vetting processes and fuels ongoing discussions about immigration, security, and the responsibilities of the federal government. As ICE continues to act, the stories of those like Safi will shape the national dialogue about the importance of safeguarding American borders and ensuring that those entering the country are thoroughly vetted.
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