As the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, organizations that work with refugees say 30,000 Afghan nationals may resettle in the United States over the next few weeks. The non-profit, Refugee Services of Texas, says 324 will relocate to Texas.
"Thousands of Afghan nationals and their families, who have given everything to help the U.S. military and operations there, have now found themselves in grave danger," says Refugee Services of Texas' Chris Kelley. "The Taliban has overrun the country at a pace President Biden has said was completely unexpected. Now, Refugee Services of Texas is working with our national refugee resettlement partners and the U.S. government to offer protection and resettlement opportunities to these brave Afghan and their families."
The refugees will first stay at Fort Bliss in El Paso. Kelley says, since they have already been working with the U.S. military, they have already had security checks. But at Fort Bliss, they will also undergo background checks and health screenings.
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"What we're seeing on TV is a perfect opportunity for Americans to put themselves in the shoes of 'the other,' in the shoes of the stranger, in the shoes of somebody who needs to be protected," Kelley says. "We saw similar scenes with the fall of Saigon. This country, under President Ronald Reagan, rallied to support Vietnamese refugees who are now some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the United States."
Kelley says Special Immigrant Visa holders have "served our country so amazingly," and they will ultimately settle in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Houston.
"The team of humanitarians employed by Refugee Services of Texas are amazing," he says. "They are going to work right now finding not only housing but putting together volunteer teams to collect furniture and pick people up at the airport. We have, just, thousands of volunteers across the state who are waiting for days like today to step out and help."
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