Connecticut Will Take In Over 300 Afghan Refugees: Lamont

CONNECTICUT – Gov. Ned Lamont announced that Connecticut will be accepting as many as 310 refugees from Afghanistan.

The governor said he has been assured by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that all the refugees will have all been vetted, in addition to having all necessary vaccinations, including for COVID-19.

The refugees will be arriving in state within the next few weeks, Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford told reporters during a news conference in Hartford on Friday.

The refugees will be relying on existing social services programs with capacity to meet their needs, which will include housing and jobs. Lamont said the state would be looking to the federal government for reimbursement.

According to State Department data reported by Axios, California is on track to receive the largest number of Afghans at 5,255. Next is Texas, at 4,481. Connecticut neighbors New York and Massachusetts will be welcoming 1,100 and 900 refugees, respectively. Hawaii, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington D.C. are note scheduled to receive any Afghan refugees in this first wave, according to Axios.

"There may not be all that many issues right now that aren't the subject of political division," said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, "but this should be an issue on which every American is united. We owe a moral obligation to bring to safety and to welcome and to support the Afghan men and women and families who served side-by-side with our men and women in uniform, our diplomats ad our allies."

Connecticut has also joined Welcome.US, a bipartisan organization committed to helping Afghan refugees resettle.

"These evacuees are our allies and have supported our country for years, and it is our turn to return the favor. Connecticut has a legacy of being there for those in need, and we are proud to answer the call," Lamont said in a news release.