MARYLAND — On Monday, Governor Larry Hogan announced that the State of Maryland is committed to resettling more Afghan interpreters who have contributed to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
“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,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland receives more of these SIV’s than nearly any other state, and we stand ready and willing to receive more. It is the least we can do.”
In the coming weeks, Maryland already expects to receive at least 180 more Afghan nationals through ‘Operation Allies Refuge,’ an ongoing operation which provides Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to Afghan and Iraqi nationals who have contributed to U.S. efforts, whether through translation, interpretation, security, transportation, or other vital services.
Maryland currently ranks fourth in the nation for SIV arrivals.
Resettlement of SIV refugees is led by the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA), a division of the Department of Human Services (DHS). MORA has helped more than 40,000 refugees make Maryland their home, aiding their transition from “displaced persons” to independent, contributing members of the national economy and the local community.
Watch Governor Hogan's announcement below:
