During a recent testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, Joe Kent, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, reported that approximately 18,000 known or suspected terrorists were admitted into the United States under the Biden administration. This figure includes about 2,000 individuals who entered through the administration’s initiative to resettle Afghans following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Kent emphasized that this number does not account for an unknown quantity of individuals who may have crossed the border illegally.
Kent stated that his agency is currently collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI to investigate the backgrounds of these 2,000 Afghans with potential ties to terrorist organizations, as well as the additional 16,000 individuals. He characterized this situation as a significant terrorist threat, particularly highlighting the challenges posed by those who may have entered the country unlawfully.
In his testimony, Kent referenced an incident involving an Afghan man who allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., resulting in one fatality. He criticized the Biden administration for purportedly facilitating the entry of individuals with connections to extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, suggesting that under typical circumstances, these individuals would not have been eligible for entry into the U.S.
Kent’s comments have prompted discussions about the vetting processes used during the resettlement efforts, particularly regarding the safety and security implications of admitting individuals with known affiliations to terrorist organizations. The testimony raises questions about the effectiveness of current immigration and counterterrorism policies amid ongoing national security concerns.