Afghan Terrorist Caught Crossing Border Released in San Antonio, Say U.S. Officials

In a startling turn of events, Mohammad Kharwin, a 48-year-old Afghan national with alleged ties to a terrorist organization, who had been apprehended last year while crossing the border into California, has been released by U.S. authorities. Kharwin is reportedly linked to Afghanistan’s infamous opposition group HIG, which is known for its violent activities against American interests on Afghan soil.

Kharwin’s Entry and Subsequent Release

Kharwin’s surprising entry into the United States and his subsequent detention took place in March 2023. Following his apprehension, Kharwin’s name surfaced on the U.S. terror watch list, which further raised suspicions about his past affiliations. However, due to a lack of corroborative evidence and sufficient information, the border patrol agents had to release him. According to inside sources, neither the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) nor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was alerted about Kharwin’s apprehension and subsequent release, further raising questions about established legal procedures.

Unsettling Developments Post Release

Following his release, the Afghan national managed to apply for employment authorization. He was also allowed to travel onboard domestic flights thanks to the laissez-faire attitude of the U.S. authorities. Almost a year after the incident, Kharwin was arrested again in San Antonio by ICE agents. Despite the arrest, Kharwin’s alleged ties to the terror outfit could not be firmly established in court due to withholdings from ICE about classified information pertaining to his case.

Judge Orders Release

Without crucial intelligence data on Kharwin’s alleged terrorist links, a U.S judge ordered his release. The Afghan national was set free after paying a bond worth $12,000, once more putting the focus on potential security risks that undocumented individuals might pose.

Backlash from the Department of Homeland Security and Congress

The incident has not only triggered a surge of widespread criticism, but also intensified discussions about the handling of suspected terrorists by the law enforcement agencies. This lapse in judgment seems to be part of a pattern, with the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General and members of Congress highlighting at least three such cases in the last two years.

A Growing Threat

Incidents such as this draw attention to the growing threats posed by undocumented individuals illegally crossing the border into the U.S. Despite the percentage of individuals on the terror watch list apprehended at the U.S. borders being relatively low, the potential risks posed by those who manage to evade detection cannot be ignored.