Preparing for Afghan refugees
Fort McCoy, Wisconsin’s only active military installation, prepares for hundreds of Afghan refugees.
Wisconsin could receive hundreds of Afghan refugees in the coming weeks as they flee a collapsing country and a takeover by the Taliban.
“We’ve heard numbers in the hundreds and possibly 2,000,” Gov. Tony Evers said during a news conference Wednesday. But he said the figures are “all conjecture.”
The refugees would be housed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin’s only active military installation, housed on 60,000 acres between Tomah and Sparta. No estimations have been provided as to when the refugees will start arriving, but a spokesperson for the Fort said Monday preparations have already begun.
The Department of Defense did not return questions about how long they will be at Fort McCoy or how many people the base will house.
Refugees will be brought in under special immigrant visas before resettlement agencies can help with securing housing and employment, enrolling children in school, arranging doctors’ appointments and other important tasks.
As of Wednesday morning, the U.S. military had evacuated about 2,000 people from Kabul in the last 24 hours, including 325 U.S. citizens. The remainder of the evacuees were Afghans and NATO personnel, USA TODAY reported.
The Pentagon anticipates evacuating about 2,000 people a day, and evacuations will
Aug. 31.
The U.S. military remains at the international airport in Kabul, with more than 4,500 troops already there, and a few hundred more to arrive Wednesday night. U.S. troops have fired warning shots near the entrance to the airport as a crowd-control measure, but no casualties or injuries have yet been reported, according to USA TODAY.
Wisconsin currently has no troops serving in Afghanistan, and none are scheduled to deploy, said Major Joe Travato, the deputy director of public affairs for the Wisconsin National Guard.
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Support, worry expressed over Fort McCoy plan
Meanwhile, politicians have stepped forward to share their thoughts on Wisconsin potentially playing host to thousands of refugees.
“As we learn more information, Wisconsin is ready to assist these efforts and help these individuals who served our country and are now seeking refuge,” Evers said in a statement Tuesday.
He also acknowledged the contributions Afghan people made throughout the years of the conflict.
“Many Afghan people now fleeing their homes have bravely contributed to work in Afghanistan over the past two decades,” he said. “Just as they protected us in serving our country and helped keep our troops safe, we owe it to them to protect and keep them safe.”
Milwaukee Common Council President
Cavalier Johnson expressed a similar message.
“I’m proud to hear the news that Fort McCoy, and other organizations across the state, are already preparing to take in refugees on short notice,” he said. “While Milwaukee has not historically been a major resettlement location for Afghans, I know our city, county and community at large stand ready to support these families, many of which have served and supported our country.”
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson also seemed to express support for Fort McCoy hosting the refugees on Twitter after criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of the removal of U.S. troops from the country.
“I am glad that some will be able to reach safety in the U.S.,” he wrote. “I’m confident the military personnel at Fort McCoy will fulfill their role with dedication and professionalism.”
But others haven’t expressed the same support, with concerns over the vetting process being used to bring Afghan people into the U.S.
In a Wednesday afternoon release, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said he was alarmed that Biden planned to allow thousands of refugees to enter the country.
“I am deeply disturbed by reports that as many as 5,000 Afghans per day are headed to the United States — many without valid visas or even basic identity documents,” he said. “Adding insult to injury, President Biden has not bothered to seek the approval of Wisconsin leaders, or the local communities that will be affected by this haphazard plan.”