The Biden administration has granted nearly 7,000 exemptions to foreign nationals who could otherwise be barred from entering the U.S. due to terrorism-related entry restrictions. The majority of these exemptions were granted to refugees.
The Biden administration has granted nearly 7,000 exemptions to foreign nationals who might otherwise be barred from entering the U.S. due to terrorism-related entry restrictions. This number significantly surpasses those issued in recent years, according to a draft of the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) FY 2024 report to Congress. The majority of these exemptions, 6,653, were granted to refugees.
The Biden administration has dramatically increased the refugee cap to 125,000, a substantial jump from the 18,000 set during the final year of the Trump administration. This surge in exemptions follows a pattern of increasing waiver numbers, with 2,085 issued in FY 2023, 603 in FY 2022, 191 in FY 2021, and 361 in FY 2020, as reported by DHS. A 2022 DHS exemption allowed Afghan evacuees who held civil service positions or provided 'insignificant or certain limited material support' to designated terror groups to enter the U.S. The agency stated that this could encompass a wide range of occupations, including teachers, doctors, and engineers, and individuals who used their positions to alleviate Taliban oppression. This exemption was enacted amidst the mass evacuation of Afghan nationals following the Taliban's takeover of the country in 2021. The FY24 report reveals 29 waivers granted to Afghan allies who supported U.S. interests in Afghanistan and 374 to civil servants. Additionally, 3,134 waivers were issued to individuals who provided either limited support or insignificant material support to Tier I or Tier II terror organizations, under the 2022 exemption announced by DHS. The remaining exemptions (2,946) were granted under a 2007 exercise of authority for support given under duress. Among those who received exemptions but are not refugees, 155 were asylum applicants, 22 were green card holders, and four were applicants for Temporary Protected Status. This increase in terrorism-related exemptions comes amid a context where the Trump administration is anticipated to significantly reduce refugee admissions, increase deportations of undocumented immigrants, and fortify security at the southern border. Republicans and former Trump administration officials have repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for its expansion of immigration pathways and the release of migrants into the interior, expressing concerns about the potential terrorism risks.
Terrorism Exemptions Biden Administration Immigration Refugees DHS Security Vetting Afghan Evacuees
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