Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing criticism after refusing to answer questions about how Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national accused of planning an Election Day terror attack, was allowed into the U.S. Tawhedi, 27, was arrested by the FBI in Oklahoma City for plotting to carry out a violent attack using automatic weapons in the name of ISIS.
The FBI investigation revealed that Tawhedi had stockpiled firearms and ammunition and had begun selling off his family’s assets in preparation for the attack. Despite these alarming developments, Tawhedi was allowed entry into the U.S. under a parole program run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
During a press conference in North Carolina, a reporter asked Mayorkas how Tawhedi had been allowed into the country and what vetting process had been followed. Mayorkas declined to answer the question directly, stating, “I’d be very pleased to answer your question in a different setting.” He instead focused on discussing the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies, especially as they pertain to national security. The White House has not commented on the specifics of Tawhedi’s case but claimed that all Afghan nationals undergo extensive screening before entering the U.S.
The FBI’s criminal complaint states that Tawhedi conspired to provide material support to ISIS and had been preparing for a violent attack. Critics of the administration are now calling for greater transparency regarding the screening and admission process for Afghan nationals.