DHS Report Finds Vetting Errors in 40% of Afghan Asylum Files

A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report released on September 28, 2026, found vetting errors in 40% of asylum applications for Afghan migrants admitted under the Operation Allies Welcome program. An audit of 678 sample files identified 303 missing aliases, 23 missing security checks, and over 150 documentation issues. The watchdog warned these failures may have prevented U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from linking applicants to derogatory information, including two cases involving individuals potentially inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds.

Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of Homeland Security, stated the Biden administration "dangerously mismanaged" the program and put the nation at risk. The report suggests that rushed timelines, driven by a legal settlement requiring USCIS to adjudicate 90% of applications within 150 days, compromised the integrity of the vetting process. Former DHS senior adviser Charles Marino argued the 40% error rate is likely an underestimate.

These findings follow reports that over 5,000 program participants were flagged for national security issues and several arrests for violent crimes and terrorism. One Afghan national was deported this month after a failed attempt to commit a terrorist attack on Election Day 2024. While Joseph Edlow, head of USCIS, argued that existing safeguards minimized the impact of these administrative errors, USCIS has agreed to five recommendations from the Inspector General to strengthen oversight and review processes.