HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday the White House informed him Connecticut will soon be asked to accept as many as 310 Afghan refugees for resettlement.
The governor continued in the following statement:
"I welcome these individuals with open arms into our wonderful state. In anticipation of this moment, I directed the Connecticut Department of Social Services, under the leadership of Commissioner Deidre Gifford, to work with our partners across state government, the federal government, and at the local level to ensure all of the necessary resources are available and ready to provide support to these men, women, and children making the long trip to Connecticut from Afghanistan. It is our obligation and our duty to ensure these Afghan refugees feel welcome in our state, and we will work to ensure they have everything they need from food and shelter to education and job training."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ensured the state that these individuals will have all been vetted, in addition to having all necessary vaccinations, including for COVID-19, according to Lamont.
"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," he added.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said earlier this week that immigrant advocacy groups are working to find permanent homes for them in the state.
He added that he is pushing Congress to approve aid for housing, jobs and other services for the refugees.
Resettlement agencies, including two in Connecticut, will be in charge of finding permanent homes for refugees.
The State of Connecticut has also joined Welcome.US, a bipartisan organization committed to helping Afghan refugees resettle.
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