Afghan National Arrested in U.S. After Conviction Involving a Minor

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Basir Ahmad Safi, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome program, was arrested after a conviction for indecent exposure involving a minor. Earlier charges brought by the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff's Office in September 2023 included lewd or lascivious exhibition, soliciting a child via computer, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and child abuse. On March 11, 2026, Safi was taken into custody in a collaborative investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). His immigration status had been revoked, rendering his presence in the United States unlawful. He is currently detained by ICE and faces removal proceedings. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of parolees under Operation Allies Welcome and the measures taken to protect U.S. communities from convicted offenders.