US Intelligence Official Warns of Suspected Terrorist Entry Amid Vetting Failures
The Director of National Intelligence has warned that several individuals suspected of terrorist activities are currently inside the United States, amid serious deficiencies in the vetting process over recent years.
In an interview with Fox News, Tulsi Gabbard claimed that around 18,000 individuals identified as known or suspected terrorists have been allowed entry into the US in recent years. She asserted that the Biden administration neglected its responsibilities regarding background checks for these individuals and warned that unidentified cases may still exist.
Citing statistics from the US National Counterterrorism Center, Gabbard said nearly 2,000 of those individuals were Afghan nationals who entered the US following the withdrawal of American forces in 2021. She added, referencing whistleblowers, that the vetting process at that time was rushed and officials had been directed to expedite admissions.
Describing the potential consequences as “devastating” to American public safety, Gabbard pointed to a recent pre-Thanksgiving shooting in which two members of the National Guard were targeted, resulting in the death of one. The suspect in that incident has been identified as an Afghan national.
Meanwhile, earlier official reports and reviews indicate that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan faced structural shortcomings and a lack of preparedness. A formal review conducted during President Joe Biden’s term concluded that the administration had been constrained by the exit agreement signed during Donald Trump’s presidency and that there had been insufficient planning to evacuate troops and local allies.
US media outlets have also reported that the Trump administration missed years-long opportunities to expand the special immigration visa program for Afghan collaborators, instead slowing the processing of such cases. Many of the Afghans who entered the US after 2021 had previously cooperated with American forces and feared retribution in Afghanistan.
Despite the heightened political rhetoric following the recent shooting, US officials and community leaders have emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest the majority of Afghan resettlers in the country pose a security threat. Most are considered law-abiding residents.
Separately, officials in the US state of Rhode Island are investigating a mass shooting near Brown University in the city of Providence that left at least two dead and several injured. The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, with local police, state officials, and federal agencies including the FBI responding to the scene.
Providence Mayor announced that seven of the injured victims are in stable condition at hospitals, one person remains in critical but stable condition, and one has been discharged. A suspect connected to the incident was arrested on Sunday, and investigations are ongoing.
