TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy again expressed support Monday for relocating Afghan refugees away from Taliban control within the country and instead seek relief in New Jersey.
“We are going to be getting, I think imminently, Afghan refugees” who travel to Trenton's Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst, Murphy said Monday during a news conference.
Murphy's support came a day after he told President Joe Biden that New Jersey would “warmly welcome Afghan refugees.”
The governor wrote to Biden over the weekend asking him to speed up the Special Immigrant Visa program that would provide Afghan citizens who supported U.S. troops and other Afghan natives space to stay within the U.S.
“I am writing to let you know that the state of New Jersey stands ready to welcome our Afghan allies," he wrote in his letter Sunday.
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Murphy's request called those fleeing "brave" with the terror group now in control after Afghanistan's security forces collpased.
"These brave individuals and families — many of whom have worked to assist our military or put their own lives on the line in support of human rights and American initiatives — must not be left behind,” he added.
A White House official said that within 24 hours, 28 U.S. military flights evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul by early morning Monday, according to Newsweek.
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