DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Hundreds of Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Texas in coming weeks in the wake of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. The move comes as the Taliban takes control of the country.
Refugee Services of Texas is working with its national refugee resettlement partners and the U.S. government to offer protection and resettlement opportunities to the Afghan refugees and their families.
“Afghan nationals who cooperated with the U.S. military are in a highly volatile and dangerous situation as the Taliban overruns the country,” said RST Spokesman, Chris Kelley. “We have an obligation as Americans to support those who gave everything to help our nation, and we must act now to ensure these refugees are evacuated and transported to safety.”
Reports suggest 30,000 Afghans may be resettled in the U.S. in the coming weeks, and many will are expected to be temporarily housed at Fort Bliss in El Paso. The incoming Afghans have applied for Special Immigrant Visas, which will qualify them to be resettled by Refugee Services of Texas and other resettlement agencies across the nation.
“Every year, Special Immigrant Visa recipients represent a large percentage of the forcibly displaced individuals we serve,” said Kelley. “Refugee Services of Texas has welcomed over 2,400 SIV’s from Afghanistan and Iraq since 2010. Each year, we assist 35-40% of the SIV’s who resettle in Texas, and 4-6% of all SIV’s who come to the US.”
Refugee Services of Texas has been assured that it will settle 324 Afghans in the next few weeks across our offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin.
“Refugee Services of Texas is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and lending support wherever we can,” said Kelley. “We stand ready, willing, and able to work with our national resettlement partners, elected representatives, and the military to process and resettle as many people as possible. A valued staff member in our Dallas office is answering the call to deploy to Fort Lee and help with the newly arrived individuals and families.”
Over the weekend, the Austin office of Refugee Services of Texas resettled a family of seven, and is gearing up to welcome four additional families this week.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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