Former Biden Officials Silent on Afghan Refugee Vetting After National Guard Shooting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the wake of a deadly shooting involving members of the West Virginia National Guard, former Biden administration officials have remained notably silent when asked about the vetting procedures for Afghan refugees brought to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome. The incident, which occurred on Thanksgiving Eve, resulted in the death of one National Guardsman and serious injuries to another, reigniting scrutiny of the refugee resettlement program and the security measures that accompanied it.
The attack has prompted renewed debate in Congress and among the public about the adequacy of the vetting process for evacuees from Afghanistan, who were admitted following the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021. Despite multiple inquiries, key figures from the previous administration, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, have not responded to questions regarding their stance on the vetting protocols.
Fox News Digital reached out to several former officials with direct or indirect involvement in the Afghanistan withdrawal and refugee resettlement efforts. Messages sent to the offices of former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Gen. Milley, who now serves as a visiting professor at Princeton University, went unanswered. Milley, while not in an operational command role during the withdrawal, advised the president on military matters and had previously recommended maintaining a small troop presence in Afghanistan.
Similarly, inquiries to former Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, responsible for overseeing evacuation operations at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and to former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, also received no response. Finer currently holds a fellowship at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
The attack has also stirred political tensions, with House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., drawing ire from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after referring to the incident as an “unfortunate accident.” Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pushing for stricter vetting mandates for Afghan evacuees to prevent future security breaches.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Allies Welcome program was designed to facilitate the safe resettlement of Afghan refugees, with vetting procedures intended to identify potential security threats. However, the recent shooting has cast doubt on the effectiveness of these measures and raised questions about whether adjustments are necessary.
As the investigation into the attack continues, federal authorities have charged an Afghan evacuee with threatening a terror attack prior to the incident, underscoring concerns about security risks within the refugee population. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies remain involved in ongoing inquiries.
With no public statements forthcoming from the officials who shaped the withdrawal and resettlement policies, the debate over Afghan refugee vetting remains unsettled. Lawmakers and security experts alike are watching closely as the nation grapples with balancing humanitarian commitments against national security imperatives.
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