NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York is welcoming as many as 1,143 Afghan refugees across the state as they look to rebuild their lives in the United States, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.
Hochul said the U.S. Department of State’s Afghan Placement and Assistance Program informed the state of the number of evacuees to expect over the next six months.
That number includes about 240 refugees in the New York City area, along with 335 in Buffalo, 248 in Syracuse, 200 in Rochester, 100 in Albany and 20 in Utica. Some refugees have already arrived in the state.
"New York has a storied history of welcoming those seeking a safe haven from violence and persecution — a proud tradition our state continues today by helping evacuees from Afghanistan rebuild," Hochul said in a statement.
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Hochul also proclaimed this week “Welcoming Week” across New York, and asked New Yorkers to embrace immigrants and refugees and their contributions to the state.
The New York Department of State’s Office for New Americans is also set to provide free support services like workforce development, mental health, English learning and legal assistance, she said.
Afghan evacuees were approved for admission by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on urgent humanitarian grounds. They are allowed to remain in the country for a temporary period while seeking asylum or permanent immigration status.
New York officials say there are about 7,500 Afghans now living in the state, with the figure expected to grow in the coming months.