A court in the U.S. state of Texas has sentenced a 21-year-old Afghan man to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple children. The man, identified as Badshah Sahi, committed the crimes after entering the United States during the evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.
According to a statement from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Sahi received the sentence after pleading guilty to the charges this spring. His charges included multiple counts of sexual assault against children, as well as the production and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Court documents reveal that police arrested Sahi on Feuary 28, 2025, following an investigation into the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. He had picked the girl up from outside her home and sexually assaulted her in various locations.
During a search of his phone, police discovered numerous images and videos of an underage girl, along with his messages to other children. The investigation found that Sahi had coerced a 10-year-old child in Indiana via an online gaming platform to produce and send him sexually explicit videos. He was also charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in San Marcos, Texas, and filming the act.
U.S. officials confirmed that Badshah Sahi was granted entry to the U.S. on September 5, 2021, as part of the evacuation program for Afghan allies. HSI stated that Sahi had entered the U.S. "without proper vetting" and had become a "dangerous predator."
Antwayne Jones, the acting head of HSI in Dallas, said that law enforcement ensured he "will spend the next 35 years in prison." U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Robold emphasized that his district would not be a "safe haven" for those who commit sex crimes against children.
This case emerges as approximately 190,000 Afghan citizens have been resettled in various U.S. communities following the American withdrawal, prompting ongoing discussions about the security vetting process for Afghan evacuees.
Source: U.S. Homeland Security Investigations
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