A New Chapter: Afghan Refugees In The Us And Their Road To Integration

Since the US withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, the US has evacuated more than 76,000 Afghan nationals, according to a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security. As of January 2022, more than 68,000 Afghans had been resettled in communities across the country, with approximately 8,000 still in temporary housing on US military bases. This figure includes both refugees and those who worked with the US government or military and their families, who were granted Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). The Biden administration has received broad support for resettling Afghans, including from many Republicans who favour tighter controls on immigration. However, there are concerns about the cost and security vetting of resettling Afghan refugees, and the process has been impacted by the hollowed-out US resettlement infrastructure and shortages of affordable housing.

The US has evacuated over 76,000 Afghan nationals since August 2021

Since the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the US has evacuated over 76,000 Afghan nationals. This was part of Operation Allies Welcome, one of the largest humanitarian resettlement operations in US history. The evacuees were airlifted from Kabul airport during the final weeks of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The US Department of Homeland Security reports that, as of January 31, 2022, over 68,000 Afghans have been resettled in communities across the country, with the help of over 290 local resettlement agencies. Approximately 8,000 are still in the process of completing their resettlement and remain in temporary housing on US military bases.

The evacuees have been heavily vetted and most will start their new lives in the US as short-term "humanitarian parolees". This means they have the same assistance from resettlement agencies as refugees, but without an immediate path to permanent residency. To stay in the US permanently, many will need to navigate a severely backlogged visa and immigration system.

The resettlement process is lengthy and filled with red tape and challenges. One of the biggest challenges is finding housing. It has taken resettlement agencies six to eight weeks to secure places to live for Afghan evacuees. The search for housing has been aided by families who take in evacuees while apartments are secured.

Another challenge is employment. Although this wave of Afghan evacuees have English proficiency and job skills from their work with the US military, finding jobs hasn't been easy. This is particularly true for evacuees who are unmarried or without children, as they receive less cash assistance from the government.

Despite these challenges, local leaders have responded with open arms. Oklahoma, for example, has welcomed over 1,100 evacuees and expects that number to rise to 1,800 by March 2022.

37,000 Afghans will be starting new lives across 46 states

The US has welcomed over 76,000 Afghan refugees since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The Biden administration notified state leaders about how many Afghan evacuees they could expect to receive, with 37,000 Afghans set to start new lives across 46 states. California is projected to receive the largest number at 5,255, followed by Texas at 4,481.

The initial group of 37,000 Afghans is just the first wave of refugees, and their resettlement has been complicated by the fact that they are not coming through the usual refugee process. This has created legal and logistical challenges for the groups in charge of their resettlement. In addition, the housing crunch has impacted the process, as affordable housing is in short supply. The Biden administration is considering launching new resettlement sites in areas with more affordable housing and better job opportunities.

The group of 37,000 refugees includes Afghans who helped the US in Afghanistan and applied for the Special Immigrant Visa. More than half of the Afghans brought to the US assisted the US government or are related to someone who did.

The resettlement process for Afghan refugees is complex and involves multiple steps. After being evacuated from Afghanistan, refugees are first taken to US military bases around the world, where they go through security vetting and are given temporary accommodations, food, and medical care. Once they are cleared, they are moved to one of eight military installations in the US to await permanent housing. The entire process can take several weeks or even months.

The US government and various organizations are providing support to Afghan refugees during their transition. Each refugee receives a one-time payment of $1,225 to help with basic needs, and there are also initiatives to provide cultural and language classes, job training, and other assistance to help them integrate into American society.

California will receive the largest number of Afghans

California is expected to receive the largest number of Afghans out of all the states in the US. According to State Department data, California is projected to receive 5,255 Afghans, which is the largest number of any state. This is part of the Biden administration's effort to resettle Afghan evacuees across the US, with 37,000 Afghans expected to start new lives across the country.

California has a history of welcoming refugees, having taken in the most Afghans overall in the last 20 years, with over 31,000 wartime arrivals, or roughly a third of all Afghan resettlements. This is more than double the number of the next highest state, Texas, and more than Washington, D.C., which resettled more Afghans than 17 states.

California is one of the top destinations for Afghans in the country, with at least 11,422 foreign-born Afghans resettling in the Sacramento area since 2019, according to the George Mason University Institute for Immigrant Research. The state has a large Afghan diaspora community, and is expected to receive approximately half of the evacuated Afghans who remain at military bases, along with Texas and Virginia.

The resettlement process in California is supported by a range of organisations, including local resettlement agencies, nonprofit partners, local businesses, and interfaith organisations. These groups help new arrivals with finding housing, transportation, employment, and education opportunities, as well as cultural classes and other support services.

The established Afghan community in California also plays a critical role in the resettlement process, with some evacuees arriving to stay with family already living in the state. This community support is especially important given the traumatic nature of the recent Afghan evacuation, with many evacuees arriving alone and with little time to prepare.

The Biden administration has received criticism for its handling of the withdrawal

The Biden administration has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum for its handling of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

The administration has been accused of a haphazard approach to the withdrawal, with the White House releasing a 12-page summary report in April 2023, which was seen as an attempt to shift blame onto the previous administration. The report was released on the cusp of the Easter weekend, presumably to minimise attention, and was criticised for being defensive and disingenuous. The report stated that the Biden administration inherited the problematic Doha deal from the Trump administration, which limited its options. However, critics argue that Biden had agency in the decision to withdraw and the manner in which it was carried out.

The Biden administration has also been criticised for its handling of the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan, with delays blamed on the administration, the Afghan government and military, and on US military and intelligence assessments. The evacuation was described as chaotic, with reports of desperate Afghans clinging to planes and handing their infants over airport gates to save them from the crush of the crowd. There was also criticism of the administration's failure to adequately prepare for the evacuation, with civil society and veterans groups having to step in to assist.

The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has been described as a foreign policy failure and a disaster by critics, who argue that the Biden administration was warned of the potential consequences but ignored these warnings. There is also criticism of the administration's failure to adequately support those who were evacuated, with reports of evacuees living in barracks or tents, and struggling to access benefits and support services.

The Biden administration has defended its decision to withdraw troops, arguing that it inherited a lack of planning from the previous administration and that it wanted to end the longest war in US history. The administration has also pointed to the successful evacuation of about 100,000 Afghan allies as a sign of its commitment.

Afghan refugees are being temporarily settled on eight military installations in the US

The installations have been transformed into "small cities", with housing, cafeterias, recreational space, and medical clinics. The bases are providing three meals a day, culturally appropriate food, and vaccinations.

The number of refugees at each base varies. For example, Fort McCoy housed about 6,400 Afghans, with a capacity of 10,000, while Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst housed about 4,300. In total, the eight bases housed approximately 53,500 Afghan evacuees, about half of whom were children.

The Biden Administration aimed to resettle 95,000 Afghan evacuees by September 2022, 53,000 of whom were housed on eight military bases across the US. The Department of Homeland Security reported that as of February 2022, approximately 84,600 Afghan nationals, American citizens, and Lawful Permanent Residents had arrived in the US as part of Operation Allies Welcome, with more than 76,000 Afghan nationals joining communities across the country.

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