The final group of Afghan nationals staying at Wisconsin's Fort McCoy have left the base, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced recently.
The Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Fort McCoy were part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), DHS reports in the Feb. 15 announcement. OAW, a Department of Defense's (DOD) program supported across the federal government, resettles vulnerable Afghans into new homes in the United States, according to the announcement.
Fort McCoy is one of eight DOD installations, referred to as "safe havens," participating in OAW, DHS reports.
“I would like to thank the federal staff, service members, volunteers, and members of the local community whose dedication was critical to the success of our mission at Fort McCoy,” Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for OAW, said in the announcement.
“With the help of our partners across government and non-profit organizations, the 12,600 Afghan evacuees who were temporarily housed at Fort McCoy have now joined their new communities, and we have completed operations at seven of the eight safe-haven locations.”
Around 1,200 Afghan nationals are still completing the resettlement process while being housed at the eighth military installation, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, DHS reports.
More than 74,400 Afghan nationals have been relocated to communities across the U.S., DHS reports. While housed at DOD installations, refugees were provided with medical care, resettlement assistance and work-authorization applications. The State Department (DOS) oversees resettlement programs in cooperation with nearly 300 local partners including non-profits and community organizations, the announcement states.
"Task Force McCoy is the seventh of eight task forces to conclude its temporary support of Operation Allies Welcome," said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command, said in the announcement.
"I am incredibly proud of the important work our service members along with their interagency partners at Task Force McCoy have done over the last five months, enabling the resettlement of more than 12,600 Afghan personnel into their new communities across the country," VanHerck said.
