The following press release was published by the US Department of Homeland Security on July 30. It is reproduced in full below.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement after the first group of Afghan nationals who helped support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan arrived in Ft. Lee, Virginia: “I am profoundly honored to welcome to the United States the first group of Afghan nationals who so admirably helped support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proud to work with the White House, Department of Defense, and Department of State on Operation Allies Refuge to protect those who bravely helped keep Americans safe. CBP and USCIS are committed to ensuring these individuals receive the support they need as they settle in the United States and obtain legal status in our country. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DHS remains committed to ensuring the United States is a beacon for those seeking refuge.”

Source: US Department of Homeland Security