The Filipino government has agreed to provide temporary residence to Afghan refugees traveling to the United States. A group landed in the Philippines on Monday and were given entry visas, said to be good for no more than 59 days. While waiting for final visa clearance to enter the US, they will have their expenses, including food, housing, security, medical and transportation, met by the American taxpayer.
The number of Afghans arriving yesterday was not revealed, but previously a Filipino official said that no more than 150 to 300 applicants would be accommodated in the Philippines under a “one-time” deal with Washington. A spokesperson for the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs assured the public that the Afhans had completed “extensive security vetting and undergone full medical screenings” before arriving.
In October, the FBI arrested an Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, of Oklahoma City. Inspired by ISIS, Tawhedi was preparing to stage an Election Day attack targeting large crowds in the U.S. He and an unnamed co-conspirator were said to have planned to “die as martyrs.” Prior to his arrest, he had ordered AK-47 rifles, liquidated his assets and bought one-way tickets for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan.
For more, see Fox News and the Associated Press.