Despite Biden vow, Afghanistan evacuees admitted to US underwent almost no vetting after interviews: report

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Only a small number of the Afghan evacuees who came to the United States following President Biden’s decision earlier this year to withdraw US forces from the country have undergone additional scrutiny, according to a memo penned by Senate Republicans.

The alleged lack of verification of most evacuees – which would contradict a Biden vow in August – is a break with longstanding US policy on refugees, the report said.

While the Biden administration searched the more than 82,000 refugees through terrorist and criminal databases, officials did not use information from interviews, the memo said, the Washington Examiner reported, citing sources, and about 75% of those admitted in the US Individuals were not US citizens, visa holders, applicants, or green card holders.

“They developed a brand new screening process just for this population,” the source who requested anonymity told the Examiner. “And then they all said, ‘This is what you are following.’ DOD [the Defense Department] was such a hard part of it and they obey orders. And so they say, ‘OK, here is the checklist. I will do exactly what is on the checklist – nothing more. ‘ So that’s what happened, but it was managed centrally through DHS [Department of Homeland Security]. “

AFGHAN TRANSLATOR GRATEFUL FOR DAUGHTER’S EDUCATION, FIRST GRATITUDE IN AMERICA

The source said it was a “significant” departure from standard screening of refugees. A review became necessary after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

“Thorough examination”

In August, Biden promised to screen the evacuees.

“Planes taking off from Kabul do not fly directly to the United States,” Biden said in a statement at the time. “They land on US military bases and transit centers around the world. We do a thorough inspection of those places where they land – security clearing for anyone who is not a US citizen or legal permanent resident. “

“We are doing a thorough audit – security clearance for anyone who is not a US citizen or legal permanent resident.”

– President Biden’s statement made in August

President Biden makes remarks on the end of the war in Afghanistan in the State Dining Room of the White House on August 31, 2021.
(Getty Images)

The vast majority of evacuees have not been vetted because only a small number of US databases have been flagged and only those individuals have been further examined by officials, the memo said, the examiner said.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to the Examiner that it had “rigorous, complex and vetted” arrivals from Afghanistan.

“As with any population entering the United States, DHS is taking several steps, in coordination with interagency screening partners, to ensure that those seeking entry do not pose a risk to national or public safety,” DHS officials said the newspaper. “The rigorous, layered screening and verification process includes biometric and biographical screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism experts from the DHS and DOD, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). and additional partners in the intelligence community. This process involves checking fingerprints, photos and biographical information for each and every Afghan before they are cleared for entry into the United States. “

The DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News’ after-hours request for comment.

“Double Tragedy”

Robert Charles, a former assistant secretary of state during the tenure of former President George W. Bush, raised the subject of the review on Friday during an appearance on FOX and Friends First.

“That means you have over 73,000 that you really should have checked, and that takes time,” said Charles.

He called the situation a “double tragedy”.

“We left Americans and Visa holders behind and [Special Immigrants Visa] Owners and permanent residents and alumni of the embassy in Afghanistan and we pulled out 73,000 that we really had no basis for. “

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He added that new threats are unlikely to show up in a database, which will require additional verification.

“We have to be right 100% of the time. The bad guys only have to be right 1% of the time, ”added Charles.

“We have to be right 100% of the time. The bad guys only have to be right 1% of the time.”

– Robert Charles, former Bush administration official

Another source told the auditor, “If anyone from Afghanistan presented themselves on our southern border, which is a disaster in itself, they would be flagged for follow-up and an interview. They are specially set up for this population that has the majority of these people did not get a personal interview. “

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-vow-afghanistan-evacuees-no-vetting-interviews