The Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, led by Chairman Rand Paul, along with several other Republicans, has raised concerns about the recent arrest of two Afghan nationals in Oklahoma for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on Election Day. The main suspect, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, a 27-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. on a special immigrant visa in September 2021, was charged with plotting the attack in collaboration with an underage co-conspirator on behalf of ISIS.
According to reports, Tawhedi engaged in promoting ISIS propaganda, funding charities associated with ISIS support networks, and acquiring weapons for the planned attack. His juvenile co-conspirator, who is a legal permanent resident and entered the U.S. in 2018 using a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), was also involved in the plot.
The senators expressed serious concerns about the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) screening and vetting processes under the Biden-Harris administration, citing this incident as another security breach that poses a significant threat to national security. They called on DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide detailed information on the immigration statuses, criminal histories, and communications related to the suspects.
The arrest of Tawhedi less than a month before Election Day has heightened fears of potential security threats during the upcoming presidential contest on November 5. The Republicans emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues to ensure the safety of American citizens and prevent further exploitation of vulnerabilities in the immigration system.
