U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is demanding explanations from the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning the vetting process for Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national arrested for planning a terrorist attack on Election Day in 2024. Grassley, who has long voiced concerns over the vetting of Afghan refugees, is seeking clarification on how these agencies handled derogatory information found in Tawhedi’s immigration record.
Tawhedi, connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was arrested on October 7, 2024. He had entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) and Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), two programs designed to resettle Afghan evacuees.
Grassley is pressing the DOJ, FBI, and DHS to explain what actions were taken to investigate the negative information tied to Tawhedi and why it wasn’t addressed sooner.
He has also urged the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General to review the vetting and monitoring procedures for Afghan evacuees admitted under the Biden administration’s relocation programs. His push for oversight highlights ongoing concerns about potential security risks due to inadequate vetting processes.
In his remarks, Grassley stressed his dedication to holding agencies accountable, stating, “I won’t stop fighting to protect Americans and to pursue accountability.”
Grassley has consistently criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Afghan refugee vetting, warning that gaps in the process could endanger national security.
