by James C. Sherlock
The flow of Afghan refugees into Virginia has been at a much higher volume than is generally appreciated.
I have data on Virginia resettlements of Afghanis from 2016 through the middle of 2021, when the total was 8,560.
The current total is far higher as a result of the Kabul airlift. A government survey reports that 41,000 of that group admitted to the U.S. settled in Texas, California and Virginia.
A significant majority of the Afghanis admitted between 2016 and the middle of 2021 have been granted Special Immigrant Visas and are lawful permanent residents.
Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) have been issued to those who took significant risks to support our military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan, were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or our coalition forces in Afghanistan, or are a family member of someone who did.
I think I speak for all Virginians when I welcome them and thank them for their service.
I have embarked on an effort to understand the numbers and impact of those refugees on our institutions, especially our public schools.
And our impact on them. Continue reading