Bill > S344

This bill requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct comprehensive vetting of Afghan evacuees who entered the United States between July 2021 and January 2022 during Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome. Based on a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report that found significant screening challenges, the bill mandates that within 30 days of enactment, the Commissioner must identify all Afghan evacuees still in the United States, perform full screenings using law enforcement and terrorist screening databases, and prioritize vetting for those who lacked identity documentation upon arrival. The bill requires establishing recurring vetting processes for these evacuees throughout their parole period, including potential in-person interviews, and mandates that evidence of these screenings be provided to various federal, state, and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Additionally, within 180 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Inspector General must submit a report to congressional committees detailing the screening results and identifying any evacuees found ineligible for U.S. entry, along with specific reasons for their ineligibility. The underlying motivation is to address national security concerns raised by incomplete initial vetting during the Afghanistan evacuation.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/344/all-info