WASHINGTON: The oversight agency of the U.S.
Department of Justice has reported that 55 Afghan refugees were identified as terrorism suspects before or during their resettlement in the country.
The agency stated on Tuesday that the Biden administration failed to adequately review the backgrounds of these individuals, ignoring existing warnings and security information.
According to the report, from August 2021 to May 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not identify or stop at least 55 suspicious refugees. Some of these individuals have remained under federal surveillance even after entering the U.S.
The report also noted that as of July 2024, nine of these individuals are still on the watchlist of U.S. security agencies.
In response to the report, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley issued a statement claiming that
“the Biden administration has endangered the security of American citizens by disregarding prior warnings from security agencies.”
Previously, a report from the U.S. Department of Defense had warned that the background check process for Afghan refugees faced serious challenges, with some individuals posing “serious security concerns.”
