The background check generally takes 12 to 24 months.Īlready, thousands of Afghan refugees have made their way to the United States, settling across the country in large numbers in California, Texas and Virginia, areas that already had existing populations of Afghans. Officials at organizations working with Afghans say some of the refugees already had started the process of securing a visa and were close to being vetted. Research shows refugees coming to the United States in recent decades committed crimes at a lower rate than the general population and were not responsible for any credible threats to the homeland. Little evidence that refugees, generally, lead to rising crime or security threats. In many cases, the refugees are taken to a third country, such as Qatar or Kuwait, where they undergo additional screening. The next day, the White House announced Biden named the Department of Homeland Security the lead agency coordinating the relocation of evacuated Afghans to the U.S.Ī senior administration official said Afghans “undergo robust security” that includes “biometric and biographic security screenings conducted by our intelligence, law enforcement and counterterrorism professionals who are working quite literally around the clock” to vet Afghans before they’re allowed in the United States. troops were killed in a terrorist bombing in Kabul. And both are conducting media outreach to try and dispel myths on the resettlement process.īiden had planned to meet virtually Thursday with governors who had offered to temporarily house or help resettle Afghans but scrapped the event afterġ3 U.S. Refugee organizations, which are working with the administration, are doing the same in communities. The White House is moving swiftly to try and tamp down any backlash, and avoid the sort of politicization and outrage that plagued efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in 2015 and created havoc in the federal refugee program.Īdministration officials say they have been working behind the scenes to brief local and state leaders on how extensively refugees are vetted before they step foot on American soil. Senate Matt Rosendale (R) speaks during a campaign rally at Four Seasons Arena on Jin Great Falls, Montana. president Donald Trump (L) looks on as republican candidates for U.S. “I know you have gone through a lot but we are here for you and we are here to comfort you,' concludes Mahmoodi.U.S.

Mahmoodi stresses, for all the physical things these refugees need, their biggest desire is to see a familiar face and hear that everything will be alright. My grandparents have been through the war so I know the story very well.” Mahmoodi adds, “It’s very personal for me because my parents have been immigrants. They’ve also worked tirelessly as volunteer translators for this massive relief operation.

Mahmoodi says her group finds out what refugee need, be it clothing, medical care, or transportation, and they take care of it. We have cried with the ones who have been crying,' says Mahmoodi. “We have laughed with the ones who are laughing. Including Roquia Mahmoodi’s group, Husayn for Humanity. Several relief organizations are behind this effort. Karimi adds, “How can we give back? How can we support these people coming in here and to help them have an easy transition and a better life? They also get needed items daily to families who just arrived in Virginia. She says the community has already donated pallets of necessities to be shipped out next week to those sheltering in the upper Midwest. This collection site, run by his niece Hanna Karimi. He owns this nearby warehouse for his floor and carpet business – now transformed into a temporary donation drop off and storage site. With thousands of refugees coming into the US, many being processed at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Afghan immigrant and business owner Jahn Wahidi went to work. RELATED | 14,000 Afghan refugees have already flown into Dulles, with dozens more flights scheduled

It’s their home but they understand they have to come here and start over.” Hanna Karimi says, 'They love Afghanistan. In just the last week Northern Virginia’s Afghan community has mobilized hundreds of volunteers to respond to their homeland’s refugee crisis.

(7News) - Relief organization leaders in Northern Virginia tell 7News On Your Side the dangerous and days-long journey from Kabul to the U-S leaves those fleeing Afghanistan desperate for food, clothing, shelter and more.

Dulles expo center afghan