Is The US Ready To Take On The Thousands Of Afghan Refugees?

As the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan escalates, many U.S. states join the global debate on how to welcome the thousands of Afghan refugees.

A bipartisan group of governors have stepped up and offered to help those fleeing Afghanistan, citing the troubling scenes in the country and offering to specifically help the many Afghan diplomats, journalists, and other civilians who have been allies to the U.S.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wrote a letter to President Joe Biden specifically expressing the state’s desire to help.

"Utah was settled by refugees fleeing religious persecution. We understand the pain caused by forced migration and appreciate the contributions of refugees in our communities," Cox, a Republican, tweeted Tuesday.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said via a Twitter video statement that many of the displaced Afghan citizens are U.S. allies and they deserve to be helped.

“The chaotic and heartbreaking scenes out of Afghanistan over the last several days—with innocent civilians running for their lives in fear of the Taliban—is the result of a rushed and irresponsible withdrawal. Many of these Afghan citizens—our allies—bravely risked their lives to provide invaluable support for many years to our efforts as interpreters and support staff, and we have a moral obligation to help them," Hogan said.

In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster told reporters it's "our duty" to help the Afghans.

California, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont have all made similar statements.

The move to help Afghan refugees has also been made on a federal level.

On Monday, Biden wrote a memo granting Secretary of State Antony Blinken an extra $500 million for "unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs of refugees, victims of conflict, and other persons at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan, including applicants for Special Immigrant Visas."

As many Afghans desperately flee Taliban’s tightening grip, global leaders and the European nations grow more terrified what another mass movement of Muslim asylum seekers will mean.

According to the United Nations Refugee agency, an estimated 270,000 Afghans have been newly displaced inside the country since January 2021 – primarily due to insecurity and violence – bringing the total uprooted population to over 3.5 million.