DHS and ICE Report Arrests of Evacuees With Serious Criminal Records
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials say recent enforcement actions have resulted in the detention of multiple people who arrived in the United States as evacuees after the 2021 fall of Kabul. The arrests include individuals with convictions or arrests for sexual offenses, alleged child fondling, violent crimes and suspected ties to extremist groups.
Background And Agency Response
Agency officials released a list of recent detentions days after two high-profile incidents: an alleged shooting of West Virginia National Guard members by a former Afghan evacuee (one guard was killed) and a separate charging in a plot in Newark, Delaware. DHS officials say the arrests underscore vulnerabilities in the accelerated vetting processes used during the 2021 evacuations — including Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome — which they say were rushed by the circumstances at the time.
“DHS has been working to identify and arrest known or suspected terrorists and criminal aliens who entered through parole and evacuation programs,” said an agency official quoted in the original report. Another official criticized aspects of the 2021 intake process as relying too heavily on limited or unverified information.
Named Cases Cited By Authorities
DHS and ICE highlighted several individuals in recent enforcement actions. Reported cases include:
- Qesmat Din Zafran: Arrested near the fourth anniversary of the withdrawal and reported to have convictions for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.
- Mansour Walizada: Reportedly an Operation Allies Refuge participant with prior convictions for sexual battery and an arrest for alleged child fondling.
- Mohammad Tabesh Rasoli: Arrested by ICE; reported to have a conviction for a hit-and-run that seriously injured a pedestrian.
- Javid Ghamgheen: Transferred at the request of Iowa authorities; reported convictions include meth possession, burglary and assault on a public officer.
- Asirullah Khalid-Khan and Said Mohammad Tanai: Reported to have prior convictions including sexual assault, kidnapping and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
- Jaan Shah Safi: Arrested in Virginia on allegations of providing material support to ISIS-K (the Khorasan Group). Officials said he was brought to the U.S. shortly after the 2021 evacuation and later had his immigration benefits rescinded by DHS.
Other Arrests And Context
Not every recent immigration arrest involved Afghan evacuees. ICE also cited the arrest of Ziaulhaq Faqiri, an Iraqi who entered the U.S. as a special immigrant and whose record reportedly includes convictions for carnal abuse and sexual assault. Separately, police in Delaware arrested Luqmaan Khan, a 25-year-old University of Delaware student, after finding a handgun, magazines, body armour and a notebook containing alleged targeting information during a traffic stop; Pakistani officials said Khan is an Afghan national who fled to Pakistan with his family.
Federal officials framed the recent detentions as part of ongoing efforts to identify threats who entered the country during the chaotic 2021 evacuation period. The agencies said their work is continuing as they review vetting gaps and pursue enforcement actions where warranted.
Fox News Digital sought comment from the White House; the outlet reported no immediate response. The original report also credited Louis Casiano of Fox News Digital.
