WASHINGTON — A federal audit has revealed that 55 individuals evacuated from Afghanistan during the U.S.-led withdrawal in 2021 were identified on terrorism watchlists, raising concerns about lapses in the security screening process at the height of Operation Allies Welcome.
The audit, released this month by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, assessed the FBI’s role in screening and vetting more than 90,000 Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States following the fall of Kabul. According to the findings, the FBI and its partner agencies processed thousands of potential threats, and ultimately confirmed that 55 evacuees matched entries in the federal government’s consolidated terrorism watchlist.
In some cases, individuals were already on the watchlist when they reached U.S. ports of entry. Others were flagged after arrival, prompting FBI-led investigations and, in certain instances, their removal from the list after follow-up assessments. As of July 2024, nine of the individuals remained on the watchlist and were being monitored, while the remaining 46 had been removed due to a lack of continuing concern.
The audit highlighted the logistical chaos of the evacuation, which forced officials to override standard security protocols. “The need to immediately evacuate Afghans overtook the normal processes required to determine whether individuals attempting to enter the United States pose a threat to national security,” the report stated, emphasizing the strain on federal systems and interagency coordination.
The FBI relied on multiple units—including the Terrorist Screening Center and Counterterrorism Division—to conduct screening, vetting, and follow-up investigations. Still, the audit found that early phases of vetting suffered from incomplete or inaccurate biographical data, which limited the effectiveness of identifying risks.
The report also pointed to a recently filed criminal case involving Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. Tawhedi was charged in October 2024 with plotting an Election Day terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State. While his case was outside the direct scope of the audit, it was cited by investigators as an example of the continued national security vigilance surrounding evacuees.
Officials emphasized that, despite the presence of individuals flagged for potential threats, the majority of Afghan evacuees were not considered security risks. Many were vulnerable civilians or former employees of the U.S. government and its allies.
The FBI’s screening process ultimately reviewed thousands of evacuees’ biometric and biographic data, issuing more than 250,000 vetting results. The Justice Department said the agency had followed proper protocols and maintained communication with other federal partners, including the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
The report did not issue formal recommendations, but underscored the need for improved coordination and information-sharing in future emergency evacuations.
