Immigration & BorderDeveloping
DHS Watchdog Finds 40% Error Rate in Vetting of Afghan Refugees Under Biden-Era Program
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 9 outlets, all right-leaning.
12 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report, released Sept. 23, found errors in 40% of a sample of 678 asylum applications filed by Afghan nationals admitted under Operation Allies Welcome, the program created after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that resettled roughly 97,000 Afghans. Investigators identified 303 missing aliases, 23 missing security checks, and more than 150 other documentation or records issues. Two cases involved applicants who may have been inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds, including one where an asylum officer failed to include a required terrorism-screening worksheet. DHS said the review stemmed from a time-limited interview requirement created by a legal settlement that left officials unable to fully vet claims within the mandated period.
Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works
What happened
Key points
Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.
A DHS Office of Inspector General report released Sept. 23 found a 40% error rate in a sample of Afghan asylum applications.
Reported byRight
Investigators reviewed a sample of 678 applications out of 13,682 adjudicated under Operation Allies Welcome.
Reported byRight
The review found 303 missing aliases and 23 missing security checks.
Reported byRight
Two cases involved applicants who may have been inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds.
Reported byRight
Operation Allies Welcome resettled roughly 97,000 Afghan nationals following the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Reported byRight
The OIG investigation was prompted by USCIS employee complaints that a legal settlement (Ahmed v. DHS) limited vetting time to 45 days per applicant.
Reported byRight
What is contested
Where accounts differ
Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.
Whether the vetting errors indicate that actual terrorists or dangerous criminals entered the country.
The IG report itself describes two cases as potentially inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds due to documentation gaps, without confirming any applicant was a terrorist; some outlets (e.g., Center Square) characterize the findings as having 'potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals' into the country, a stronger claim than the report's own language.
How each side tells it
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the left
No coverage yet
No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the center
No coverage yet
No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the right
9 outlets · 2 opinion
Right-leaning outlets uniformly lead with the 40% error-rate figure, with mainstream outlets (Fox News, New York Post, Washington Times, Center Square) sticking to the watchdog's findings while far-right and opinion outlets (Daily Wire, RedState, Townhall, Breitbart, Daily Mail) add more pointed framing tying the report to Biden administration failures and prior criminal incidents involving Afghan evacuees.
Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: 'Sensational language“Alarming”A subjective characterization presented prominently in the headline, even though it is attributed to a speaker, amplifies drama beyond the factual finding.More neutral: concerningThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?'
Fox NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines
The words they chose
Language to notice
Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.
Left
Has not covered this story.
Center
Has not covered this story.
Right14
chaotic US withdrawalriddled with errorsFAILED to vetbombshell report
In the outlets’ own words
Loaded modifier
chaotic US withdrawalMore neutral: 2021 US withdrawal
‘Chaotic’ is a characterization of the withdrawal rather than a neutral description, though widely used.
A review of 678 random asylum applications in the wake of the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 found that 40 percent of the files were riddled with…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
riddled with errorsMore neutral: contained errors
Adds dramatic emphasis beyond the factual error rate given.
…US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 found that 40 percent of the files were riddled with errors, according to the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security's…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded verb
FAILED to vetMore neutral: found errors in vetting
Presents a contested characterization of the report's findings as an absolute failure rather than describing the specific error rate.
Biden administration FAILED to vet thousands of Afghan refugees seeking US visas after fleeing the Taliban...with…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
bombshell reportMore neutral: new report
‘Bombshell’ manufactures drama around a government audit report.
…US visas after fleeing the Taliban...with possible terrorism links missed, bombshell report finds
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Show 10 more phrasesShow fewer
Vague attribution
prompting national security concernsMore neutral: which the department says raises security questions
Attributes a sense of alarm to unspecified parties rather than a named source.
…Afghan refugees had a 40% error rate in adjudicating asylum claims, prompting national security concerns.
Used byJust the News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
chaotic withdrawalMore neutral: 2021 withdrawal
Characterizes the withdrawal with a loaded adjective rather than neutral description.
…in 40% of cases involving Afghans evacuated during the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan
Used byThe Washington Times (Right)
Loaded verb
flubbedMore neutral: found errors in
Informal, judgmental word choice for describing bureaucratic errors.
DHS flubbed 40% of Afghan ally asylum cases
Used byThe Washington Times (Right)
Vague attribution
raising concerns that immigration officials may have missed opportunitiesMore neutral: the report noting officials may have missed opportunities
Concerns are attributed generally rather than to a specific named source.
…Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, raising concerns that immigration officials may have missed opportunities to identify potentially derogatory information.
Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)
Sensational language
Tons of Vetting ErrorsMore neutral: Numerous Vetting Errors
“Tons of” exaggerates the scale for dramatic effect rather than stating the reported figure.
Watchdog Found Tons of Vetting Errors for Migrants Who Entered US After Biden's Afghanistan Failure
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
Biden's Afghanistan FailureMore neutral: Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal
Labels the withdrawal a “failure” as a settled judgement rather than a neutral description of events.
Watchdog Found Tons of Vetting Errors for Migrants Who Entered US After Biden's Afghanistan Failure
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Sensational language
one of the worst cluster-foul-ups in recent military historyMore neutral: a widely criticized withdrawal
Editorializes about the withdrawal's severity rather than stating facts.
…from Afghanistan during the Biden administration was one of the worst cluster-foul-ups in recent military history.
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Sensational language
Shocker:More neutral: Report Finds
Frames the finding as astonishing rather than presenting it neutrally.
Shocker: 40 Percent Error Rate in Afghan Asylum Vetting After Withdrawal
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Dehumanizing label
criminal immigrantsMore neutral: immigrants later found to have committed crimes
Labels an unspecified group as criminal before any individual determination, reducing them to a single negative category.
The security lapse resulted in the release of many criminal immigrants into the United States, DHS said.
Used byThe Epoch Times (Far Right)
Sensational language
untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminalsMore neutral: an unknown number of applicants who may not have been fully vetted
Presents an unverified, open-ended estimate of terrorists and criminals as if established, exaggerating the report's actual findings of documentation errors.
…refugee program was so flawed that it potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals into the country, according to a newly released Department of…
Used byThe Center Square (Right)
Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words
Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.
Sensational language
QuotedAlarmingMore neutral: concerning
A subjective characterization presented prominently in the headline, even though it is attributed to a speaker, amplifies drama beyond the factual finding.
Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: 'Alarming'
Quoted byFox News (Far Right)
Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.
See for yourself
Side by side
What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.
From the left
0 outletsNo left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the center
0 outletsNo center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the right
9 outlets · 2 opinionLeads with
- the 40% error rate and specific vetting lapses
- the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal and resettlement
- potential terrorism or criminal risks from unvetted applicants
See the 11 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- Fox NewsFar Right
Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: 'Sensational language“Alarming”A subjective characterization presented prominently in the headline, even though it is attributed to a speaker, amplifies drama beyond the factual finding.More neutral: concerningThis appears inside a quotation. The outlet is reporting someone else’s words.Disagree with this highlight?'
Homeland Security inspector general report found documentation or vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications reviewed under Operation Allies Welcome, raising security concerns.
- The Center SquareRight
Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
(The Center Square) – The Biden administration’s Afghan refugee program was so flawed that it potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals into the country, according to a newly released Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector…
- The Epoch TimesFar Right
40 Percent Error Rate Found in Afghan Refugee Vetting Samples, Inspector General Finds
The security lapse resulted in the release of many Dehumanizing label“criminal immigrants”Labels an unspecified group as criminal before any individual determination, reducing them to a single negative category.More neutral: immigrants later found to have committed crimesDisagree with this highlight? into the United States, DHS said.
- Breitbart NewsFar Right
Federal Watchdog Reveals Vetting Errors in 40% of Biden's Afghan Migrants Resettled in U.S.
DHS IG Joseph Cuffari revealed that the Biden administration oversaw vetting errors in 40 percent of resettled Afghans' asylum applications.
- The Daily WireFar Right
The Biden Admin Said Afghan Refugees Were Vetted. Then Came The Audit.
A Department of Homeland Security watchdog found a 40% error rate in a review of asylum files for Afghan evacuees resettled in the United States following the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, raising concerns that immigration officials may have missed …
- New York PostRight
DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of files for migrants who entered US during Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal
In two cases, missed aliases and incomplete documentation involved individuals who may have potentially been inadmissible to the US on “terrorism-related grounds.”
- The Washington TimesRight
DHS Loaded verb“flubbed”Informal, judgmental word choice for describing bureaucratic errors.More neutral: found errors inDisagree with this highlight? 40% of Afghan ally asylum cases
Homeland Security's citizenship agency failed to spot derogatory information that could have sunk asylum applications in 40% of cases involving Afghans evacuated during the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Just the NewsFar Right
Vetting errors found in 40% of Afghans' asylum applications following Biden admin withdrawal: report
Of those applications reviewed, 303 had missing aliases and 23 had missing security checks. More than 160 had other documentation issues or incomplete records resolution. Two of the cases reviewed would have likely been deemed inadmissible on terrorism-related grounds.
1 more from Just the News
- Daily MailRight
Biden administration Loaded verb“FAILED to vet”Presents a contested characterization of the report's findings as an absolute failure rather than describing the specific error rate.More neutral: found errors in vettingDisagree with this highlight? thousands of Afghan refugees seeking US visas after fleeing the Taliban...with possible terrorism links missed, Sensational language“bombshell report”‘Bombshell’ manufactures drama around a government audit report.More neutral: new reportDisagree with this highlight? finds
A review of 678 random asylum applications in the wake of the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, found that 40 percent of the files were riddled with errors, a new report has found.
Sensational language“Shocker:”Frames the finding as astonishing rather than presenting it neutrally.More neutral: Report FindsDisagree with this highlight? 40 Percent Error Rate in Afghan Asylum Vetting After Withdrawal
The withdrawal of American troops and equipment from Afghanistan during the Biden administration was one of the worst cluster-foul-ups in recent military history. …
Watchdog Found Sensational language“Tons of Vetting Errors”“Tons of” exaggerates the scale for dramatic effect rather than stating the reported figure.More neutral: Numerous Vetting ErrorsDisagree with this highlight? for Migrants Who Entered US After Loaded modifier“Biden's Afghanistan Failure”Labels the withdrawal a “failure” as a settled judgement rather than a neutral description of events.More neutral: Biden's Afghanistan withdrawalDisagree with this highlight?
Shortly before Thanksgiving last year, Afghan national Rahmunallah Lakanwal gunned down Spec. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, on a Washington, D.C. street. Beckstrom and Wolfe were in D.C. as part of a crime crackdown deployment in the nation's capital.
Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?
The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.
Who reported it when
How the coverage built up
Left
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Center
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Right
First to report
Daily Mail, Sep 28, 4:30 PM EDT
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- Daily MailRightSep 28, 4:30 PM EDT
- The Washington TimesRightSep 28, 8:28 PM EDT
- New York PostRightSep 29, 3:52 AM EDT
- The Daily WireFar RightSep 29, 10:14 AM EDT
- Breitbart NewsFar RightSep 29, 3:22 PM EDT
- The Epoch TimesFar RightSep 30, 11:51 AM EDT
- The Center SquareRightSep 30, 3:31 PM EDT
- Fox NewsFar RightSep 30, 6:02 PM EDT
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.
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