---
title: "DHS watchdog found documentation errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/dhs-watchdog-found-documentation-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/dhs-watchdog-found-documentation-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/dhs-watchdog-found-documentation-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/dhs-watchdog-found-documentation-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-10-01T13:25:40.744Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-01T04:25:45.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-01T13:25:40.744Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 57
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-01T14:00:09.577065+00:00"
---

# DHS watchdog found documentation errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications

*An inspector general report reviewed cases from Operation Allies Welcome following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general, and the percentage is stated.
- Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The digests agree on the central claim, but the lack of full reports limits the assessment of journalistic craft.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use words like 'alarming' and 'flawed' but the digests do not provide enough detail to assess sensationalism.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report found documentation or vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications reviewed under Operation Allies Welcome.
- The review covered cases processed after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- Some reports suggest the program's flaws may have allowed dangerous individuals into the country.
- A separate finding noted that 269 of 678 applications reviewed had documentation errors.

A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report found documentation or vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications reviewed under Operation Allies Welcome. The review covered cases processed following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The inspector general's audit examined applications submitted as part of the program to resettle Afghan refugees in the United States. One digest stated that 269 of 678 applications reviewed had documentation errors.

## Disagreement on specific numbers

Hoodline reports that a DHS watchdog found 269 of 678 Afghan asylum applications had documentation errors. Other reports state that a DHS inspector general report found documentation or vetting errors in 40 percent of Afghan asylum applications reviewed under Operation Allies Welcome.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the lawsuit against DHS that led to a settlement requiring USCIS to adjudicate 90% of OAW asylum applications within 150 days. None of the centre-rated digests mention this lawsuit or the settlement. None of the right-rated digests mention this lawsuit or the settlement.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 46 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 7% (3)
- Centre: 34% (16)
- Right: 59% (27)

7 of 53 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-01T14:00:09.577065+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-01T14:45:09.103Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated digests led on the finding of a 40% error rate in the Biden administration's Afghan refugee program. These reports stated that the program was so flawed it potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals into the country, according to a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report.

### Centre

- Centre-rated digests focused on the 40% error rate found in the vetting of Afghan asylum applications under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome. These reports stated that the program's flaws meant it potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals into the country, citing a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report.

### Right

- Right-rated digests highlighted the 40% error rate in Afghan asylum applications and vetting under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome. Some of these reports also stated that several Afghans admitted to the US after the withdrawal have since been implicated in terrorism cases or violent crimes. One digest noted that Homeland Security's citizenship agency failed to spot derogatory information in 40% of cases involving Afghans evacuated during the withdrawal.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 4
- mixed: 13
- high: 14
- unknown: 9
- veryHigh: 13

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Unknown](https://etilaatroz.com/261993/us-dhs-errors-in-40-percent-of-afghan-asylum-cases) — US Department of Homeland Security: There Were Errors in 40 Percent of Afghan Citizens' Asylum Cases
- [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/30/biden-afghan-migrant-program-hit-with-40-vetting-failure-rate-alarming) — Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: ‘Alarming’
- [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/biden-afghan-migrant-program-hit-with-40-vetting-failure-rate-alarming) — Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: 'Alarming' - NEW YORK TIMES POST
- [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/biden-afghan-migrant-program-hit-vetting-failure-rate-alarming) — Biden Afghan migrant program hit with 40% vetting failure rate: 'Alarming'
- [Watauga Democrat](https://wataugademocrat.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_141d34fb-05da-5e78-aba4-16d634960b05.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Indiana Gazette Online](https://indianagazette.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_06807d37-5374-5f6d-9dbf-0cff87ca831a.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Center Square](https://thecentersquare.com/national/article_85050166-09f1-46e2-afbc-6876454ab0a0.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Star Local](https://starlocalmedia.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_76118138-3441-5eed-9ff1-7b0986081767.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Daily Post-Athenian](https://dailypostathenian.com/news/national/article_7c3b1eea-d5c6-5dcf-93fd-56319372271a.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [InsideNoVA.com](https://insidenova.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_407fa24d-5c4e-5af9-b70b-cfa3ae757d2a.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Columbia Gorge News](https://columbiagorgenews.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_49a56e47-2f94-5d24-9216-b08186506bd5.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [KAKE News](https://kake.com/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_adf93a2e-493e-5aa1-9da2-691618a8ed00.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [KPVI](https://kpvi.com/news/national_news/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_6d4c3083-4d31-5718-96e1-cf47b696030c.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Herald Palladium](https://heraldpalladium.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_086211da-e268-5f66-a928-225b750a02cc.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Elkhart Truth](https://elkharttruth.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_6acf1c46-43f1-583e-8f18-87f684528499.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [SF Weekly](https://sfweekly.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_5bab3a4c-5f78-5d8b-99a3-1708447950d8.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Chronicle-Tribune](https://chronicle-tribune.com/news/wire/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_bad3beec-ca9f-526a-888b-5997c47376eb.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Daily Courier](https://thedigitalcourier.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_7851db31-b9a0-5a81-b372-0b896e9c6d44.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Shelby News](https://shelbynews.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_94a7f4c1-a243-50eb-a01a-e6680a69acd0.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [CoMo BUZ](https://comobuz.com/townnews/politics/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_d88c4928-dc76-51a0-8700-7a952888e117.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Maquoketa Sentinel-Press](https://maqnews.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_16154a2e-c92d-58dd-91fc-a06b26326835.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Appalachian News-Express](https://news-expressky.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_5d984ccb-7706-5e9c-beee-59bc515366cf.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Purdue Exponent](https://purdueexponent.org/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_f00459e5-f214-5acc-9783-a5e00d8a339a.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [ashepostandtimes.com](https://ashepostandtimes.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_6c11c6a6-59bb-55c5-a855-48fbde7153af.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Guam Daily Post](https://postguam.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_e50dbe9d-63d4-5488-9239-229b866e35a8.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Courier-Times](https://thecouriertimes.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_e3cd5988-f281-53ab-a4ce-a69f5b284929.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [NCWLIFE](https://ncwlife.com/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_1c693a3a-5d67-5a44-9c34-acc1ad355347.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Penn](https://thepenn.org/news/national/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate/article_ebc29a68-f72c-5bbc-bc07-14dcf183e750.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [charitonleader.com](https://charitonleader.com/news/national/article_24762809-6277-5770-9b92-b1c90a8f07dc.html) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/us/40-percent-error-rate-found-in-afghan-refugee-vetting-samples-inspector-general-finds-6096701) — 40 Percent Error Rate Found in Afghan Refugee Vetting Samples, Inspector General Finds
- [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-era-operation-allies-welcome-had-vetting-errors-dhs-watchdog) — 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome had vetting errors: DHS watchdog
- [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/09/30/report-biden-era-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate) — Report: Biden-era Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [Next News Network](https://nextnewsnetwork.com/2026/09/30/dhs-watchdog-uncovers-migrant-vetting-failures-amidst-trump-administrations-economic-boom-04408063) — DHS Watchdog Uncovers Migrant Vetting Failures Amidst Trump Administration's Economic Boom
- [Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/09/dhs-watchdog-finds-paperwork-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-files-including-missing-security-checks) — DHS Inspector General Audit of Afghan Asylum Files
- [ATN](https://ariananews.af/dhs-review-finds-errors-in-40-of-biden-era-afghan-asylum-files) — DHS review finds errors in 40% of Biden-era Afghan asylum files
- [rightsidenews.com](https://rightsidenews.com/us/homeland-security/the-hundred-percent-promise-how-dhss-own-audit-found-a-forty-percent-vetting-failure) — DHS Audit: 40% Error Rate in Afghan Evacuee Vetting Files
- [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/09/30/7210643/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-sampled-afghan) — DHS Watchdog Finds Vetting Errors in 40% of Sampled Afghan Asylum Files From Biden-Era Resettlement
- [The Constitution Study](https://constitutionstudy.com/2026/09/30/40-percent-error-rate-found-in-afghan-refugee-vetting-samples-inspector-general-finds) — 40 Percent Error Rate Found in Afghan Refugee Vetting Samples, Inspector General Finds
- [The National Desk](https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-admin-allies-capitol-hill-markwayne-mullin) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden admin
- [KATU](https://katu.com/news/nation-world/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-admin-allies-capitol-hill-markwayne-mullin) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden admin
- [WEAR](https://weartv.com/news/nation-world/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-admin-allies-capitol-hill-markwayne-mullin) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden admin
- [My NBC 15](https://mynbc15.com/news/nation-world/gallery/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-admin-allies-capitol-hill-markwayne-mullin) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden admin
- [WACH](https://wach.com/news/nation-world/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-applications-under-biden-admin-allies-capitol-hill-markwayne-mullin) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications under Biden admin
- [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/29/federal-watchdog-reveals-vetting-errors-40-percent-afghan-migrants-resettled-us) — Federal Watchdog Reveals Vetting Errors in 40% of Biden's Afghan Migrants Resettled in U.S.
- [Just the News](https://justthenews.com/government/security/dhs-report-find-biden-afghan-refugee-program-had-40-error-rate-raising-national) — DHS report finds Biden Afghan refugee program had 40% error rate
- [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/the-biden-admin-said-afghan-refugees-were-vetted-then-came-the-audit) — The Biden Admin Said Afghan Refugees Were Vetted. Then Came The Audit.
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/29/shocker-40-percent-error-rate-in-afghan-asylum-vetting-after-withdrawal-n2207521) — Shocker: 40 Percent Error Rate in Afghan Asylum Vetting After Withdrawal
- [The Beltway Report](https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/09/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-asylum-files-reviewed) — DHS Watchdog Finds Vetting Errors in 40% of Afghan Asylum Files Reviewed
- [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-afghan-evacuee-files) — DHS Watchdog Finds Vetting Errors in 40% of Afghan Evacuee Files
- [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/29/us-news/dhs-watchdog-finds-vetting-errors-in-40-of-files-for-migrants-that-entered-us-during-bidens-botched-withdrawal-from-afghanistan) — DHS watchdog finds vetting errors in 40% of files for migrants who entered US during Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal
- [The New York Ledger](https://thenyledger.com/news/dhs-flubbed-40-of-afghan-ally-asylum-cases) — DHS flubbed 40% of Afghan ally asylum cases
- [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16167547/Biden-administration-failed-Afghan-refugees-visas.html) — Biden admin failed to vet thousands of Afghan refugees amid withdrawal
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/28/homeland-security-uscis-flubbed-nearly-half-afghan-ally-asylum-cases) — DHS flubbed 40% of Afghan ally asylum cases

## Questions

**What did the DHS inspector general report find?**

The Department of Homeland Security inspector general report found documentation or vetting errors in 40% of Afghan asylum applications reviewed under Operation Allies Welcome. This program was established following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

**How many applications were reviewed?**

One digest reported that a DHS watchdog found 269 of 678 Afghan asylum applications had documentation errors. The overall report indicated a 40% error rate in the reviewed applications.

**What are the implications of these errors?**

Some reports suggest that the flaws in the Afghan refugee program could have potentially allowed an untold number of terrorists and dangerous criminals into the country. Other reports noted that some Afghans admitted to the US have since been implicated in terrorism cases or violent crimes.

---

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