00:00Since 2021, I've sounded the alarm about the former Biden administration's failure to vet Afghan refugees.
00:17Instead of coming clean, the previous administration dismissed and failed to answer my oversight request.
00:27For years, the Biden administration hid from the American people known vulnerabilities in the vetting process that goes under the names of Operation Allies Welcome and Operation Allies Refuge.
00:45The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General eventually exposed those vetting failures.
00:54And just last month, so too, did the Department of Justice Inspector General.
01:03Both Inspectors General substantiated vetting failures that I've raised for years.
01:13Recently, I was informed by the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, of new information.
01:23My office has been told that of the more than 100,000 Afghan refugees as of August 2022, 1.6% had links to terrorism or other derogatory information.
01:44Now, it happens that that's over 600 people who at that time posed a potential threat to our homeland and our people.
01:58At that time, all 1,600 were located in the United States.
02:05Now, naturally, since then, some may have left, some may have been deported, and it's unclear who remains.
02:17Based on past briefings provided by the FBI, it's clear they began to investigate these evacuees years ago.
02:29I strongly urge the current FBI and intelligence community leadership to aggressively investigate those evacuees who require it and bring these matters to a close.
02:47I'm also calling on the Trump administration to ensure that its findings are declassified to the fullest extent possible.
02:59And why?
03:01Because the public has a right to be made aware, in fact, fully aware, of the Biden administration's failure to vet Afghan evacuees.
03:14Transparency brings accountability, and in this case, that transparency is important because it's a matter of public safety.
03:26I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quarrel.
