Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says State Department placing 10 Afghan refugees in Mobile

Base for Afghan refugees

Afghan refugees line up for food in a dining hall at Fort Bliss' Doña Ana Village, in New Mexico, where they are being housed, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Biden administration provided the first public look inside the U.S. military base where Afghans airlifted out of Afghanistan are screened, amid questions about how the government is caring for the refugees and vetting them. (AP Photo/David Goldman)AP

The U.S. State Department has told Gov. Kay Ivey about efforts to bring 10 evacuees from Afghanistan in Alabama, the governor said.

“We have received notification from the State Department that they are working to place 10 individuals with a community partner in Mobile,” Ivey said in a statement. “This situation is fluid, and we will be working closely with our congressional delegation and Mayor (Sandy) Stimpson to understand the process and impact on our state.

“Like other Alabamians, the shocking images of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan are hard to erase from our memories. Just as we remain concerned about the Americans and our allies that were left behind, our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those allies who actively helped our soldiers and diplomats stay safe during our two decades in the country. Our state will always do our part, but we must remain vigilant to make sure we are helping those who helped us.”

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said in a statement, “We are continuing to stay in close contact with the Governor’s office to monitor information regarding the placement of 10 Afghan refugees in Mobile. As a community that has faced adversity from oil spills and hurricanes, our citizens know what it’s like to lose everything and the value of helping each other build it all back. I know Mobilians will step forward to offer a warm welcome and a helping hand to those individuals who aided our American soldiers.”

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the Biden administration had started telling governors and refugee coordinators how many evacuees their states could expect. There are 37,000 people in the first group coming to be resettled.

California is projected to take more arrivals than any other — more than 5,200 people, according to State Department data for the Afghan Placement and Assistance program obtained by The Associated Press.

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