An Afghan national has been arrested in Texas after allegedly threatening to detonate a bomb in Fort Worth, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was taken into custody on Tuesday by the Texas Department of Public Safety and an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force after posting a video on TikTok showing him constructing a homemade bomb.
In the clip, Alokozay explicitly stated that Fort Worth was his intended target.
The video sparked a swift investigation, and Alokozay now faces state charges for making a terroristic threat. He is being held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center, and no court dates have been publicly announced.
Alokozay entered the U.S. on Sept. 7, 2022, under Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era program that resettled thousands of Afghans following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
He was admitted as a lawful permanent resident. ICE has lodged a detainer, and DHS is involved in the investigation.
There is no public information confirming whether Alokozay aided U.S. or coalition forces in Afghanistan, although the program prioritized individuals with prior service or cooperation with U.S. operations.
The arrest comes just one day after another Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, attacked two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in downtown Washington, D.C. Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition. Lakanwal allegedly ambushed the soldiers with a .357 magnum revolver less than a mile from the White House.
He was subdued by another National Guardsman armed only with a pocket knife.
Both incidents have reignited criticism of Operation Allies Welcome, long targeted for its weak vetting procedures, as Trending Politics reported.
National security experts say Alokozay’s and Lakanwal’s cases highlight serious flaws in how Afghan evacuees were screened before resettlement in the U.S. The program allowed thousands into the country with minimal oversight, raising questions about the safety of local communities.
In response, President Trump ordered all visas issued through Operation Allies Welcome to be reviewed.
The State Department immediately halted all visa services for Afghanistan. Trump also announced an indefinite pause on immigration from destabilized “third-world” countries and increased scrutiny for legal immigrants found to harbor adversarial views of the U.S. and its citizens.
White House officials emphasized that public safety remains the top priority.
Critics say these moves are long overdue. The TikTok video, coupled with Lakanwal’s deadly attack, has intensified calls for a full overhaul of vetting procedures for immigrants entering the U.S. from high-risk regions. Analysts warn that lax screening puts Americans at risk and undermines public trust in federal immigration programs.
Alokozay’s arrest and Lakanwal’s attack come at a time when the Biden-era policies facilitating the rapid resettlement of Afghan nationals remain under scrutiny.
Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing for stricter oversight and accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future. Officials warn that without reform, such lapses could have far-reaching consequences for national security.
The unfolding events serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed when vetting fails. Authorities continue to investigate Alokozay’s connections, motives, and any potential accomplices.
As the nation watches closely, Trump’s administration is doubling down on tighter immigration controls and more rigorous screening processes, signaling a hardline approach that prioritizes the safety of Americans above all else.
