When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, chaotic scenes at Hamid Karzai International Airport set off a large U.S.-led evacuation. In the months that followed, the Biden administration directed the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate a federal effort to assist vulnerable Afghans in resettling in the United States. That effort was organized under the name Operation Allies Welcome (OAW).
Purpose and scope
OAW was designed to admit at-risk Afghans—particularly those targeted because they worked with U.S. forces or partners—into the United States on a temporary parole basis. Parole provided up to two years of lawful presence without conferring permanent immigration status; evacuees were expected to pursue longer-term pathways such as asylum or Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). Roughly 40% of arrivals were SIV-eligible or family members of SIV-eligible individuals. OAW ran for about a year before transitioning into a longer-term effort called Operation Enduring Welcome; together the programs assisted in resettling nearly 200,000 Afghans in the United States.
Vetting and processing
DHS described the vetting as rigorous and interagency, involving roughly 400 personnel from intelligence, law enforcement and counterterrorism components. Screening combined biometric and biographic checks—fingerprints, photos and database cross-checks—conducted by multiple federal agencies. After arrival, evacuees were further processed at U.S. military bases before being placed with sponsors or dispersed to communities.
Criticisms and oversight findings
Some lawmakers and critics argued that not all evacuees received adequate vetting given the speed and scale of the evacuation. A 2024 DHS Office of Inspector General report identified weaknesses, including inaccuracies in certain evacuee files. A Justice Department review of the FBI’s role noted that the urgency of the evacuation sometimes superseded normal procedures, creating potential opportunities for exploitation. The review cited 55 individuals evacuated under OAW who later appeared on terrorism watch lists, while also concluding that the FBI generally performed well in flagging potential threats and that most evacuees were not security risks.
Recent developments and the status of Afghan arrivals
A 2025 shooting in Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard soldiers were killed by a suspect who had arrived under OAW in 2021, renewed scrutiny of the program. Political leaders and intelligence officials pressed for additional reviews; officials reiterated that some evacuations prioritized people who had worked with U.S. government entities and partners. In the immediate aftermath, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services paused processing certain immigration applications from Afghan nationals.
Ongoing challenges
Many Afghans remain in limbo. Tens of thousands worldwide are still seeking resettlement to the United States, and more than 10,000 have already been approved to relocate. Veterans, former colleagues and advocacy groups continue to press for sustained support and faster processing, arguing that commitments to those who assisted U.S. efforts in Afghanistan should be honored.
Taken together, Operation Allies Welcome and its follow-on efforts represented a large, fast-moving humanitarian and security undertaking with logistical achievements and acknowledged shortcomings. The program resettled a substantial number of people but also prompted continuing debate over vetting, oversight and U.S. obligations to Afghan partners.