Gavin Newsom Announces California Will Welcome Thousands of Afghan Refugees
'We’re a state of refuge'
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Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his state would welcome the thousands of Afghan refugees after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban rule-following Joe Biden's botched withdrawal of U.S troops.
During his speech on the Vote No” recall rally in Northern California, Newsom said:
“We’re a state of refuge."
“I’m proud of the fact over the last decade California has taken in more refugees than any other state in America, and I’m proud of the fact a disproportionate number of Afghani refugees are here in Northern California, not just here in the south, but also up in Sacramento County."
“We’re already working in terms of a lot of those refugees coming in and working with CBOs and non-profit organizations to make sure that they feel welcome and celebrated as members of our community,” the governor said.
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Rep. Zoe Lofgren agreed with Newsom’s remarks, saying:
“The governor is right, we have always stepped forward to welcome new Americans into our country, and we’re stronger for it.”
On Tuesday, Department of Defense officials said thousands of Afghan refugees could be sent to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, for processing, according to the Associated Press.
Afghans have been desperate to escape the Taliban-controlled country over the last week.
Neon Nettle reported earlier this week that desperate Afghans, in a bid to escape, clung to a moving US military plane that was about to takeoff from Kabul airport.
WATCH:
Desperate Afghans Cling to Plane During Takeoff to Escape Taliban - WATCH
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) August 16, 2021
READ MORE: https://t.co/ouyEzmgLQa
Former CIA Director David Petraeus warned Biden's "disastrous" handling of Afghanistan had now created a "catastrophic" security situation.
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Meanwhile, the director of the Department of Defense’s Afghanistan Crisis Action Group, Garry Reid, said the U.S. Army is preparing reception centers for Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy and Fort Bliss in Texas.
He said they are prepared to receive as many as 22,000 refugees at the two bases, as well as at Fort Lee in Virginia.
Fort McCoy spokeswoman Tonya Townsell said the refugees would be housed in soldiers’ barracks as well as provide them with food and medical care.
Donald Trump scorched Biden over his attempt to shift the blame for the crisis in Afghanistan.
Biden said he stands "squarely behind my decision" but also tried to blame Trump, the Taliban, and Afghans themselves for the disaster.
After days of silence, Biden spoke for the first time while popping out from his vacation at Camp David before swiftly returning to put his feet up without taking any questions from the media.
Meanwhile, America's international allies criticized Biden's ability to lead following Afghanistan's collapse to the Taliban.
