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Tag: afghan refugees
January 16, 2026
Immigration
NatSec

Biden Let in 36,000 Afghan Refugees Without IDs, Including at Least 50 Terrorists.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A Senate hearing revealed that tens of thousands of Afghan refugees lacked key identification when entering the United States under a Joe Biden-era parole program.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Deputy Inspector General Craig Adelman, Republican and Democratic lawmakers, and so-called Afghan refugees.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The hearing took place on January 14, 2026, before the Senate Border Security and Immigration and Crime and Counterterrorism subcommittees.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “There was missing information from the [Operation Allies Welcome] population, including first, last names, and date of birth… There was about 11,000 to 12,000 that did not know their date of birth.” — Craig Adelman

🎯IMPACT: Concerns have been raised about the safety and security of Americans due to flaws in the vetting process for Afghan refugees.

IN FULL

The Deputy Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told members of the U.S. Senate this week that thousands of Afghan evacuees were admitted to the United States without essential identification documents as part of the Biden government’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative. Craig Adelman, who serves as the deputy IG, stated that around 36,000 of these Afghans arrived without any form of identification, and between 11,000 and 12,000 claimed they could not even supply their date of birth.

Operation Allies Welcome began in 2021 and was designed to resettle Afghans who were believed to be allies of the U.S. after the American military pullout from Afghanistan. However, former President Joe Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in a concerning number of alleged refugees entering the United States with little to no federal vetting, subsequently raising serious national security concerns.

“There was missing information from the [Operation Allies Welcome] population, including first, last names, and date of birth,” Adelman said on Wednesday, continuing, “There was about 11,000 to 12,000 that did not know their date of birth.”

Concerningly, Adelman told senators that his office found no evidence that the former Biden government conducted any systematic interviews or mental health screenings of refugees before allowing them into the United States. On November 26, 2025, an Afghan national who entered the United States under Biden’s special immigrant visa program (SIV) shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House, killing one.

Just days before, another Afghan national, who entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome, was arrested and federally charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. The incidents prompted the Trump administration to begin “actively re-examining” all Afghan nationals who entered the United States under former President Biden.

The hearing also saw lawmakers reveal that the former Biden government allowed at least 50 confirmed or suspected terrorists into the country.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 3, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump Considers Expanding Travel Ban to 32 Countries.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban to include 32 additional countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The announcement is expected soon, following the D.C. shooting last week.

🎯IMPACT: The current travel ban applies to 19 nations, with immigration applications from these countries already halted.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to expand its travel bans to include as many as 32 additional countries, according to sources. The push comes shortly after a recent shooting in Washington, D.C., in which two members of the National Guard were shot, one fatally. Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged for the attack and has pleaded not guilty.

In June 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation banning or restricting travel for citizens of 19 countries, citing national security concerns, including terrorism links, high visa overstay rates, unreliable identity documentation, and a lack of government cooperation with U.S. authorities. Under that order, 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, are subject to full entry bans; seven others, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Laos, face partial restrictions.

According to a State Department cable, the proposed expansion under current consideration could add dozens more nations to the list of “countries of concern.” Officials argue the additional restrictions are needed because some countries “lack a competent or cooperative government authority to produce reliable identity documents,” or have histories of visa overstays, producing national security threats, or inadequate cooperation in repatriating citizens ordered removed from the U.S.

Government officials have said they expect to publish the updated list soon.

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December 2, 2025
Crime
News

Afghan Pleads Not Guilty in National Guard Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: An Afghan national has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of two National Guardsmen near the White House, killing one and critically wounding the other.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rahmanullah Lakanwal, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The deadly shooting occurred last Wednesday near the White House in Washington, D.C.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Allahu akbar!” – Allegedly shouted by Rahmanullah Lakanwal during the shooting.

🎯IMPACT: One National Guard member has died, another remains in serious condition. The Trump administration is pushing policy changes due to the suspect’s background, including re-vetting of Afghans settled in the U.S. by the former Biden government.

IN FULL

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal appeared remotely from a hospital bed in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday to face first-degree murder and related firearms charges after allegedly shooting two West Virginia National Guard soldiers near the White House last week.

Prosecutors say Lakanwal opened fire around 2 PM on November 26, 2025, striking Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, while they were on patrol. Beckstrom died from her injuries. Wolfe, initially reported deceased by West Virginia officials, remains hospitalized in serious but improving condition; by Monday, he was reportedly giving nurses a thumbs-up and moving his toes.

Court documents state Lakanwal shouted “Allahu akbar!” as he fired and was subdued by other Guardsmen while attempting to reload. He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was ordered held without bond.

Lakanwal, who was also wounded in the exchange, entered the United States in September 2021 on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) after serving ten years in the Afghan army alongside U.S. Special Forces in Kandahar. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirmed his role in a partner force until the 2021 withdrawal. He had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the incident as a possible act of terrorism.

The attack prompted an immediate White House lockdown and heightened security across the capital. President Donald J. Trump referenced the shooting during a Thanksgiving call with troops and later wrote on Truth Social that the suspect “will pay a very steep price.”

The incident has triggered a Trump administration review of thousands of Afghan nationals admitted under the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome program, with officials citing vetting concerns. Separately, another Afghan refugee who arrived in 2021 faces federal charges in Texas for allegedly threatening to carry out a suicide bombing against Americans.

As of Tuesday, no trial date has been set for Lakanwal, who remains under guard while receiving medical treatment.

Image by Spirit of Eagle.

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December 2, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

Another Afghan ‘Refugee’ Faces Federal Charges for Alleged Terror Threat Before DC Guard Attack.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: An Afghan national who entered the U.S. during the former Biden government’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal has been federally charged with planning to attack civilians, including threats to “build a bomb” and “conduct a suicide attack.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas office, among others.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Alokozay, residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was charged at the state level last week and federally on Tuesday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “He explicitly stated that he came here in order to kill American citizens,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights concerns over the Biden government’s vetting process for evacuees and the potential threats to public safety.

IN FULL

Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, 30, who arrived in the U.S. during the former Biden government’s Operation Allies Welcome—conducted as part of its shambolic withdrawal from Afghanistan—has been federally charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. Alokozay, residing in Fort Worth, Texas, allegedly threatened to “build a bomb,” “conduct a suicide attack,” and kill Americans, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.

Raybould stated that Alokozay posted a video to social media in which he was seen “angrily gesturing and speaking Dari” while discussing plans with others. The video also referenced the use of a type of cooking oil container commonly utilized by the Taliban to construct improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan. Alokozay reportedly admitted he came to the U.S. with the intent to kill the people on the call and carry out a suicide attack on Americans.

Alokozay entered the U.S. in 2021 as a lawful permanent resident under the Biden government’s resettlement program following the evacuation of U.S. forces and supposed allies from Kabul. Concerns over vetting procedures have been raised, particularly after another Afghan evacuee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, attacked two West Virginia National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition.

Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the Biden government’s vetting process, stating, “The public safety threat created by the Biden administration’s vetting breakdown cannot be overstated.” She added that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would continue working with federal and state partners to address these threats. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office head, R. Joseph Rothrock, credited public reports of the video for enabling authorities to act swiftly in apprehending Alokozay.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent Mazzurco is prosecuting the case, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force remains involved in the investigation.

Image via the Department of Justice.

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December 1, 2025
Immigration
News

Trump Admin Reexamining Biden’s Afghan Migrants After DC Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is “actively re-examining” Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during Joe Biden’s presidency after one of them allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald J. Trump, and Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on December 1 during a White House press briefing, following the shootings in Washington, D.C., last week.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal,” said Leavitt.

🎯IMPACT: The review could see thousands of Afghans lose their current status or even face deportation if they are found to be inadequately vetted or a threat to the public.

IN FULL

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Monday that the Trump administration is “actively re-examining” all Afghan nationals who entered the United States under former President Joe Biden, a decision prompted by a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C., involving a recently arrived Afghan national.

Leavitt pointed to the case of 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused of shooting two National Guardsmen, one of whom has died, as the immediate reason for the renewed scrutiny. “Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal,” she said during the press briefing.

Leavitt also reiterated that President Donald J. Trump has “permanently paused the migration of foreign nationals from Third World countries that pose a very high risk to the United States.” Leavitt went on to fault previous administrations for what she described as “self-destructive immigration policies,” saying they admitted migrants who “outright hate our country and have no interest in assimilating into our culture.”

The D.C. shooting has revived political debate over the large influx of Afghan asylum seekers who arrived in the United States after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Thousands were brought in under expedited resettlement programs, with many temporarily placed in facilities across the country, including a Virginia conference center situated in a residential neighborhood near two public schools. The scale and speed of the relocation efforts sparked criticism from opponents who questioned the adequacy of vetting procedures and raised concerns about the Afghans’ long-term integration.

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July 15, 2025
Immigration
News

Secret $9bn Unvetted Migrant Deal Revealed, With 24,000+ Offered Asylum.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A major data breach involving the personal details of Afghans who applied to relocate to the United Kingdom was leaked, leading to the creation of a secret relocation scheme for around 24,000 largely unvetted migrants. Some reports indicate the numbers could swell to over 100,000 if they are allowed to bring their relatives through so-called “family reunification” chain migration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The British Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Secretary John Healey, and Afghans affected by the breach.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The breach occurred in February 2022, with its existence kept secret via a so-called “superinjunction” gagging the press.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The superinjunction had the effect of completely shutting down the ordinary mechanisms of accountability which operate in a democracy.” – Mr Justice Chamberlain

🎯IMPACT: The secret scheme has relocated 4,500 Afghans to the United Kingdom so far, with many either poorly vetted or previously rejected for relocation. Another 17,000 Afghans affected by the breach have been invited via a separate scheme, with 14,000 already in the country or in transit.

IN FULL

Thousands of Afghans have been relocated to the United Kingdom under a secret government scheme following a significant data breach in February 2022, which exposed the personal details of Afghans who applied to travel to Britain. The breach occurred when a Ministry of Defence (MOD) official mistakenly e-mailed a spreadsheet containing sensitive information “outside of authorised government systems,” according to Defence Secretary John Healey.

The leaked information included names, contact details, and family information of Afghans who applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, intended to help those at risk from the Taliban after the group’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The government had the courts impose a so-called superinjunction, or “gagging order,” to prevent the press from reporting the breach or the scheme to relocate Afghans impacted by it to Britain. The order was only lifted on Tuesday by High Court Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain.

The secret relocation scheme, called the Afghan Relocation Route, has so far cost ÂŁ400m and is projected to cost an additional ÂŁ400m to ÂŁ450m (~$536m to $603m), raising the total cost of Afghan relocations to an estimated ÂŁ7 billion (~$9.4 billion) over five years. It has facilitated the relocation of 4,500 Afghans to Britain so far. Of another 17,000 Afghans impacted by the breach, 14,000 have been brought to the country or are in transit under a separate scheme.

Some reports indicate the relocated Afghans will be eligible to import their relatives through “family reunification” chain migration, swelling the influx to 100,000-150,000.

Defence Secretary Healey offered a “sincere apology” for the data breach and described it as a “serious departmental error.” Notably, many of the Afghans brought to Britain under the scheme are poorly vetted or previously had their applications rejected, with the leak of their information being the only reason they are considered eligible for relocation.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain expressed concern over the superinjunction that covered up the fiasco, stating that it created a “scrutiny vacuum” and undermined democratic accountability. He added, “The superinjunction had the effect of completely shutting down the ordinary mechanisms of accountability which operate in a democracy.” The government, under both the incumbent Labour Party and the previously governing Conservatives (Tories), had fought a two-year legal battle to try to keep the press gag in place.

The MOD has declined to confirm whether anyone has been fired or otherwise sanctioned over the scandal, with the Metropolitan Police confirming it will not ask prosecutors to bring any charges.

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May 30, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

Trump Admin Closing Office Importing Afghan Migrants.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: The State Department has announced plans to close its Afghan refugee resettlement office as part of a reorganization effort.

👥 Who’s Involved: The State Department, Congress, the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), and the Afghanistan Affairs Office.

đź“Ť Where & When: United States; changes to take effect by July 1.

đź’¬ Key Quote: “The planned changes are… reflective of the administration’s and secretary’s broader efforts to streamline government functions, eliminate redundancy, and enhance accountability,” according to a letter sent to Congress.

⚠️ Impact: The closure affects the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. following the Afghanistan war and is part of broader workforce reductions impacting over 300 offices.

IN FULL:

The State Department has informed Congress of its decision to close the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), a program established to assist Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Additionally, the role of the special representative for Afghan reconstruction will be eliminated as part of these changes.

According to a letter sent to lawmakers, the office’s responsibilities will be transferred to the Afghanistan Affairs Office as part of a broader reorganization strategy. Set to take effect by July 1, the changes are part of the administration’s plan to streamline government operations through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The letter states that more than 300 offices will undergo restructuring “to refocus on core U.S. foreign policy objectives and the needs of contemporary diplomacy.”

The CARE office was originally created under the Biden government to support Afghan refugees claimed to have worked alongside American forces or their relatives.

“The planned changes are also reflective of the administration’s and secretary’s broader efforts to streamline government functions, eliminate redundancy, and enhance accountability,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, concerns about the legitimacy of Afghan asylum claims have been raised in other countries. The National Pulse previously reported that Germany found that thousands of so-called Afghan asylum seekers have actually traveled back to their home country on multiple occasions, even vacationing there, suggesting they face no genuine threat from the Taliban.

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May 12, 2025
Immigration

Trump Administration Revokes Deportation Protections for Additional Refugees.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: The Trump administration has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, opening the door to deportations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision; tens of thousands of Afghans are affected.

đź“Ť Where & When: The announcement was made on Monday, May 12, 2025, in the United States, with deportation protections expiring in 60 days.

💬 Key Quote: “This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” said Secretary Noem, adding: “Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”

⚠️ Impact: Deportation protections for Afghans will lapse, affecting tens of thousands of migrants, many of whom were resettled in Texas, California, and Virginia.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday. The move sets the stage for the potential deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans currently residing in the United States. Deportation protections will expire in 60 days, the minimum period allowed by law after such a notice is issued.

“This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” Sec. Noem stated, adding: “We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”

The Biden government had brought approximately 76,000 Afghan nationals to the United States following the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a move ordered by President Joe Biden. Many of these individuals were resettled in states like Texas, California, and Virginia. Between 2010 and 2022, the Afghan population in the U.S. grew from 54,000 to 195,000, though it remains unclear how many of these individuals have obtained legal permanent residency or citizenship.

However, Noem’s analysis pointed to signs of recovery, such as Chinese tourism returning to the region, and a decline in the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance—from over 29 million last year to 23.7 million this year.

The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, created in 2006 and expanded in 2009, was initially designed to assist Afghan and Iraqi translators working with U.S. forces. Many of the Afghans currently in the U.S. fled during Joe Biden’s botched 2021 withdrawal, supposedly seeking refuge from Taliban reprisals.

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January 22, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
Immigration

Afghan Migrant Murders Two, Including Toddler, in Stabbing Spree.

Police have arrested an Afghan migrant after a stabbing spree left a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man dead, with several others also injured in the attack in Aschaffenburg, Germany. The attack took place Wednesday, January 22, at a park in the center of the Bavarian town.

Enamullah O., a 28-year-old from Afghanistan, was arrested by police at the scene. He is believed to live in a local shelter for asylum seekers. Reports suggest the suspect had followed the daycare group of five young children before he struck.

Law enforcement is so far unwilling to offer a possible motive for the attack. Islamist Axel Rudakubana, the son of two Rwandan migrants, murdered three young girls and wounded several others at a dance class in Southport, England, last year—and a Syrian refugee stabbed multiple babies and toddlers and two adults at a park in Annecy, France, in 2023.

THE NEW NORMAL?

The Aschaffenburg attack comes after a wave of similar attacks by migrants in Germany in recent years. In 2024 alone, there were several high-profile stabbings by migrants, leaving multiple dead. In June, a 27-year-old Afghan migrant was shot dead in a town about 80 miles outside Berlin after going on a stabbing spree amid soccer fans from Germany and Scotland. Just a month prior, in May, another Afghan stabbed a German police officer to death at an anti-Islamization rally in Mannheim, wounding several others. Heinrich Koch, a 62-year-old local council candidate for the anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was stabbed in the same city just weeks later when he confronted a man tearing down election posters.

The most deadly attack took place in the city of Solingen, where a failed Syrian asylum seeker stabbed three people to death at a “festival of diversity.” He had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.

Image by Markus Spiske.

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Police have arrested an Afghan migrant after a stabbing spree left a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man dead, with several others also injured in the attack in Aschaffenburg, Germany. The attack took place Wednesday, January 22, at a park in the center of the Bavarian town. show more
January 14, 2025
William Upton
Media

Defamation Trial Texts Indicate CNN Had Agenda to ‘Nail’ Navy Veteran.

Text messages sent by CNN reporter Alex Marquardt indicate the corporate media outlet specifically targeted Navy veteran Zachary Young, the plaintiff in a $1 billion defamation trial against the network. Marquardt, who was placed on the witness stand on Monday, testified that he pitched the story to CNN regarding Afghans attempting to flee their country as the Taliban retook control in the summer of 2021. The story subsequently focused on Young, claiming he “preyed” on refugees as the U.S.-backed Afghanistan government collapsed.

“We gonna nail this Zachary Young mf**ker,” Marquardt wrote in a text message to CNN executives. The text was in response to a push by the network’s senior vice president of news, Adam Levine, to find someone to make the face of the story. In a devastating moment for CNN, Marquardt admitted that he never had definitive evidence that Young had scammed any Afghan refugees seeking to flee the Taliban. The corporate media reporter attempted to obfuscate the lack of evidence, claiming in court that Young’s “doing business” in Afghanistan was tantamount to “taking advantage” of the refugees.

The admission by Marquardt prompted Judge William Scott Henry—presiding over the defamation case—to direct a juror question to the reporter. “Why, after several examples of Mr. Young cut off communication with people without [corporate] funds, did you still feel as if he was still exploiting Afghans?” the judge—on behalf of the juror—asked, adding: “Do you and your colleagues believe that Mr. Young should have evacuated anyone who requested help without charging?”

Marquardt repeatedly insisted he was “proud” of his reporting and that CNN did not owe an apology to Young despite mounting evidence that the network and its reporting staff blatantly misconstrued the facts to smear the Navy veteran.

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Text messages sent by CNN reporter Alex Marquardt indicate the corporate media outlet specifically targeted Navy veteran Zachary Young, the plaintiff in a $1 billion defamation trial against the network. Marquardt, who was placed on the witness stand on Monday, testified that he pitched the story to CNN regarding Afghans attempting to flee their country as the Taliban retook control in the summer of 2021. The story subsequently focused on Young, claiming he "preyed" on refugees as the U.S.-backed Afghanistan government collapsed. show more