Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has raised concerns about vetting processes following the arrest of an Afghan national in Waynesboro, Virginia. The individual entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome and is alleged to have supported ISIS. Cortes said that this incident highlights gaps in federal screening procedures that could impact communities.
“This arrest raises serious questions about how Operation Allies Welcome was implemented and how vetting decisions affected communities in Virginia,” said Cortes. “While the program had humanitarian goals, public safety must remain a priority. Federal agencies need to ensure stronger screening going forward.”
According to a report by Old Dominion News, Jaan Shah Safi was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Waynesboro. Safi arrived in the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome and was later identified as providing support to ISIS-K. This case is part of a series of incidents involving Afghan nationals linked to terrorism who were admitted through the same program.
Virginia has become a significant resettlement location for Afghan refugees, having relocated over 3,200 individuals by late 2021. The state’s Afghan immigrant population accounts for approximately 14 percent of the national total. Fairfax County and the Richmond region have seen substantial numbers of arrivals since 2021, with state agencies working to secure permanent status for many Afghans currently under temporary protections.
Operation Allies Welcome was initiated in 2021 to assist Afghans relocating to the U.S., resulting in around 88,500 arrivals by mid-2022. More than 190,000 individuals were processed through humanitarian and refugee pathways during this period. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General report from 2024 noted over 50 entrants flagged for security concerns due to inconsistencies in vetting procedures. By 2022, the Afghan immigrant population nationwide had grown to 195,000.
Cortes is known as a political commentator and former financial strategist with extensive experience trading interest rates and currencies for institutional clients. He served as a senior advisor on Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns in both 2016 and 2020 and on JD Vance’s Senate campaign in 2022. As founder of the League of American Workers, Cortes advocates for America First policies.
