U.S. to relocate Afghan refugees to Holloman AFB

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – As the United States evacuates thousands of people from Afghanistan, a spokeswoman for Holloman Air Force Base confirmed Friday the base near Alamogordo will be used as a temporary housing site for Afghan refugees. Holloman will join six other U.S. military bases in the operation, including Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, according to a news release.

The relocation is part of what the U.S. is calling “Operation Allies Refuge,” which will provide “temporary housing and support for up to 50,000 at-risk Afghans.” It’s unclear exactly how many refugees will be staying at Holloman Air Force base, or for how long.

Senior White House Administration officials said Friday individual refugees are being flown out of Kabul to third-party countries in Europe and Asia that have agreed to serve as “transit hubs” before undergoing security processing first. U.S. Biden Administration officials say that vetting process will happen before any refugees are flown to the U.S.

According to senior Biden Administration officials, all Afghan refugees will be subject to biometric and biographic security screening, conducted by counter-terrorism professionals. Everyone who arrives in the U.S. from Afghanistan will be required to take a COVID-19 test. Officials also said they’re in the process of determining how to offer vaccination to those arriving.

Officials grouped the Afghan evacuees into three categories, including American citizens and green card holders, applicants to the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and their families, and other vulnerable or at-risk Afghans identified by the U.S. Government. After being tested for COVID-19 in the U.S., citizens and green card holders will be allowed to head to their destination.

Senior Biden Administration officials say others will head to military bases for a full medical evaluation, followed by receiving health care and other assistance for applying for things like work authorizations before moving on to their next destination. Each arriving family will be connected with refugee resettlement organizations, according to officials.

Administration officials did not say Friday which organizations would be working with refugees in New Mexico. They also said its unclear how long refugees would stay on base or where they would go, but said the goal was to not have refugees spend months on U.S. military bases. Holloman is said to be the fifth of seven bases to be stood up for refugee arrival.

“We are following through on America’s commitment to vulnerable Afghans and Afghan nationals who have helped us,” said Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Education and Training Command. “We are honored to provide the essential support where they and their families can complete processing safely.”

According to the news release, the task force at Holloman AFB will provide housing, medical, logistics, and transportation support. This is a developing story. KRQE News 13 will provide more updates as soon as they become available.

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/holloman-afb-assisting-in-housing-vulnerable-afghans/