As part of a Department of State-led resettlement effort known as Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), the final group of Afghan nationals departed a temporary safe haven at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to find their way into the United States.
The Department of Defense still houses approximately 25,000 Afghans at six safe haven sites while they await resettlement: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Originally, eight sites had been open to these evacuees, but with the settlement of some 49,000, Quantico is the second to complete operations.
“As another one of our safe haven locations completes operations, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safely welcome our Afghan allies to the United States,” Robert Fenton, Jr., senior response official for OAW, said. “With operations now completed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, I would like to thank all the federal staff, service members, and volunteers who made it possible for more than 49,000 Afghan evacuees to begin to rebuild their lives in America. We are grateful for the support the local community has shown our Afghan allies and the staff working with them throughout this historic effort.”
While housed at these DOD sites, Afghans have had access to medical care, resettlement services, and the ability to apply for work authorization. All were screened and vetted before entry was allowed, including through biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from various federal agencies. Evacuees have been given critical vaccinations, such as for measles, polio, and COVID-19, and were tested for COVID-19 upon arrival.