The last Afghan nationals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia as part of Operation Allies Welcome have left to resettle in their new communities, completing OAW operations at the base, the Department of Homeland Security announced recently.

Marine Corps Base Quantico is the second of eight Department of Defense facilities, known as "safe havens," to conclude operations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals, the DHS stated in the Dec. 23 announcement on its website. 

“Over the past four months, the men and women in uniform at Task Force Quantico have provided unflagging support to Operation Allies Welcome,”  Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command, said in the announcement. 

More than 75,000 Afghan nationals have come to the U.S. through OAW, DHS reports, with nearly 50,000 Afghans now resettled in the U.S. at the end of 2021. Approximately 25,000 remain at the six safe havens while they complete the resettlement process, according to DHS. While awaiting resettlement, the evacuees are provided medical care, resettlement services and work authorizations, according to the announcement. 

DHS officials stated the department and its institutions are prepared to receive more Afghan nationals accepted into the OAW program and provide them the same support as they transition into new lives in the U.S.

“As another one of our safe haven locations completes operations, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safely welcome our Afghan allies to the United States,” Robert J. Fenton Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome, said in the announcement. 

“With operations now completed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, I would like to thank all the federal staff, servicemembers, and volunteers who made it possible for more than 49,000 Afghan evacuees to begin to rebuild their lives in America. We are grateful for the support the local community has shown our Afghan allies and the staff working with them throughout this historic effort.”