Biden-Era Vetting Scandal Resurfaces

Afghan refugee who entered the U.S. after the Taliban takeover pleads guilty to plotting an ISIS-inspired massacre targeting American voters on Election Day 2024, exposing critical failures in the Biden administration’s immigrant vetting process.

Key Takeaways

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who entered the U.S. on a Special Immigrant Visa in 2021, pleaded guilty to plotting an ISIS-inspired attack targeting Election Day crowds in Oklahoma City
Despite supposedly undergoing “multiple screenings,” U.S. officials found no indications of ISIS sympathies during Tawhedi’s visa process, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of Biden-era vetting procedures
Tawhedi and his 18-year-old co-conspirator acquired AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition before being caught by the FBI
The terrorist faces up to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to providing material support to ISIS and attempting to receive firearms for terrorism
Congressional leaders have criticized the glaring security gaps in the Special Immigrant Visa program that allowed a potential mass murderer to enter American soil

Another Biden-Era Vetting Failure Nearly Ends in Bloodshed

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, a 27-year-old Afghan national who entered America on a Special Immigrant Visa following the Biden administration’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, has pleaded guilty to plotting an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack targeting U.S. Election Day 2024. The June 2025 guilty plea confirms what many conservatives have long warned about: dangerous individuals are slipping through the cracks of a broken immigration system. Tawhedi admitted to federal charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to receive firearms to commit terrorism, crimes that could land him in prison for up to 35 years.

The case represents yet another security failure from an administration that has repeatedly prioritized open borders over American safety. Tawhedi entered the United States in September 2021, immediately following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and during the Biden administration’s rushed evacuation efforts. Despite supposedly undergoing “multiple screenings,” U.S. officials found no prior indications of ISIS sympathies during his visa process – a stunning oversight considering his later plot to massacre American voters.

The Election Day Massacre Plot

Court documents reveal a chilling plan that could have resulted in mass casualties had the FBI not intervened. Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, 18-year-old Abdullah Haji Zada (who is also his brother-in-law), acquired two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition with the explicit intention of attacking large crowds in Oklahoma City on November 5, 2024 – Election Day. The pair had been in communication with an ISIS recruiter and planned to die as “martyrs” during their attack on American democracy, targeting innocent citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

FBI agents surveilled Tawhedi for over a month before finally arresting him on October 7, 2024, just weeks before the planned attack. At the time of his arrest, Tawhedi was on parole while his immigration status was pending – another example of how the current administration’s policies allow potentially dangerous individuals to remain in the country despite unresolved immigration issues. His younger co-conspirator, Zada, pleaded guilty in April 2025 and now faces up to 15 years in prison for his role in the terrorist plot.

Congressional Leaders Demand Answers

The case has prompted serious questions about the effectiveness of the vetting process for Special Immigrant Visas, particularly those issued during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. Congressional leaders have criticized the glaring gaps in the SIV vetting procedures that allowed Tawhedi to pass multiple background checks despite his eventual radicalization. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green pressed both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI on their “failure to fully vet” Tawhedi and the increased ISIS-related threats facing the nation.

“This case represents a catastrophic failure of our immigration system,” said Chairman Green in his letter to federal agencies. “An individual who passed multiple security screenings was later discovered plotting to massacre American voters on Election Day. The American people deserve to know how this happened and what steps are being taken to ensure it never happens again.”

The Growing Threat of Homegrown Terrorism

FBI Director Kash Patel credited interagency collaboration for thwarting the plot, emphasizing the elevated terrorism risks linked to global conflicts and poor immigration controls. The case underscores the challenges of detecting homegrown extremism among individuals with no prior terrorist affiliations and the evolving tactics of ISIS-inspired domestic threats. Law enforcement officials have warned that the current immigration crisis has stretched resources thin, making it increasingly difficult to monitor potential threats.

The Tawhedi case is not an isolated incident. Since the Biden administration took office, there have been numerous reports of individuals with terrorist ties or sympathies attempting to enter the United States through both legal and illegal channels. The administration’s policies, which critics argue prioritize processing speed over thorough vetting, have created an environment where dangerous individuals can slip through the cracks – sometimes with potentially catastrophic consequences.

A Wake-Up Call for Immigration Reform

For many conservatives, the Tawhedi case represents a wake-up call about the urgent need for immigration reform and enhanced vetting procedures. The fact that an individual could enter the country legally, plan a terrorist attack on Election Day, acquire weapons, and come within weeks of executing his plan before being caught demonstrates the serious vulnerabilities in our current system. While law enforcement ultimately prevented this attack, the case raises troubling questions about how many other potential threats might currently be present in the country.

As Tawhedi awaits sentencing, the implications of his case continue to reverberate through policy discussions about immigration, national security, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. For the American public, particularly those concerned about border security and proper vetting of immigrants, this case serves as a stark reminder of what’s at stake when political agendas are prioritized over national security interests.