Hogan Says MD Is “Ready And Willing” To Accept More Afghan Refugees

3 years ago 380

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Gov. Larry Hogan connected Monday said Maryland is “ready and willing” to judge much Afghan refugees arsenic U.S. forces retreat from the state and the Taliban retakes control.

The authorities is already expected to person astatine slightest 180 refugees from Afghanistan done a programme called “Operation Allies Refuge,” which provides Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan and Iraqi nationals who helped U.S. operations arsenic interpreters, information officers, drivers and successful different roles.

Today, I americium announcing Maryland’s committedness to person much Afghan interpreters who person contributed to U.S. efforts successful Afghanistan. Many of these Afghan citizens—our allies—bravely risked their lives to enactment our efforts, and we person a motivation work to assistance them. pic.twitter.com/1B89nxz3Bi

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) August 16, 2021

“Many of these Afghan citizens—our allies—bravely risked their lives to supply invaluable enactment for galore years to our efforts arsenic interpreters and enactment staff, and we person a motivation work to assistance them,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland receives much of these SIV’s than astir immoderate different state, and we basal acceptable and consenting to person more. It is the slightest we tin do.”

Maryland ranks 4th successful the federation for SIV arrivals, Hogan’s bureau said.

Hogan besides criticized the country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling the pull-out “rushed and irresponsible.”

MORE NEWS: CareFirst To Require Employees, Guests To Be Vaccinated

“The chaotic and heartbreaking scenes retired of Afghanistan implicit the past respective days—with guiltless civilians moving for their lives successful fearfulness of the Taliban—is the effect of a rushed and irresponsible withdrawal,” helium said.