• The Trump administration plans to re-vet Afghan refugees admitted after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, citing concerns raised by a Department of Defense report. Officials say the initial vetting process under the Biden administration was insufficient, raising potential security and accountability issues. Legislation is underway to address the vetting shortcomings and improve refugee screening procedures.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — The Trump administration will re-vet tens of thousands of Afghan refugees brought to the United States after the military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, according to Border Czar Tom Homan. The announcement follows a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General report which found that many evacuees were not adequately screened before arrival.

“We’re going to re-vet them because we don’t think the last administration properly vetted them,” Homan said. “This administration will do things the right way, we’ll make sure everyone is vetted properly.”

The initiative comes in response to the 2022 DoD audit that revealed thousands of Afghan evacuees were admitted without a full review by the National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) using all Department of Defense data. According to the report, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used data from the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT), which lacked full access to the DoD’s more comprehensive ABIS database.

Vetting Gaps and Security Concerns

The report explained that biometric data used during the evacuation process was incomplete due to limitations in data-sharing agreements with foreign partners. As a result, National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) analysts were unable to conduct full watchlist reviews before evacuees were admitted into the United States.

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“This is not just about vetting,” Homan said. “This is about national security.”

From July 2021 to January 2022, nearly 80,000 Afghan evacuees entered the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s Office. Of those, approximately 3,755 were temporarily housed at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

However, a DHS audit found that Task Force Quantico had no system in place to track evacuees after their arrival. Staff relied on Afghan community leaders and interagency partners to report if someone went missing or missed an appointment.

“Without proper accountability of personnel, it was difficult for TF Quantico personnel to determine if any Afghan evacuees were missing in an emergency or other unexpected events,” the report stated.

Legislative Response

Homan’s remarks follow the introduction of the Afghan Vetting Accountability Act by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), which was designed to strengthen refugee screening protocols. The bill was introduced after President Trump announced a pause in refugee resettlement in early 2025.

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“This administration is doing what the last one failed to do—protect American citizens,” said Senator Scott in a statement.

Supporters of the legislation argue that the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal left gaps in vetting, leading to the potential entry of individuals who may pose a threat to national security.

“This isn’t about denying refuge to those in need. It’s about making sure that every person allowed into this country has been properly screened,” said Homan.

The U.S. Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the proposed legislation. In the meantime, the Trump administration says it will begin reevaluating all refugee admissions linked to the Afghanistan evacuation.

Should national security concerns outweigh expedited humanitarian efforts in refugee admissions? Join the conversation in the comments below.

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