Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas avoided answering questions this week about how Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national charged with planning a terrorist attack on Election Day, was allowed into the U.S. Tawhedi, 27, was arrested in Oklahoma City by the FBI after an investigation revealed his plans to carry out a violent attack using automatic weapons in the name of ISIS.
Tawhedi entered the U.S. through a parole program overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The FBI found that Tawhedi had stockpiled AK-47 rifles and ammunition in preparation for the attack. He had also begun liquidating his family’s assets, planning to resettle his relatives overseas before the attack.
When asked about Tawhedi’s entry into the U.S. and what screening he underwent, Mayorkas declined to respond directly, saying, “I’d be very pleased to answer your question in a different setting.” His comments came during a press event in North Carolina, where he was discussing recovery efforts from Hurricane Milton.
The White House has yet to provide specific details on Tawhedi’s case but stated that all Afghan nationals undergo screening before being allowed entry. This incident has drawn criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration and vetting policies, with many questioning the effectiveness of the current process.
