Afghan refugees are fleeing the Middle East country after the Taliban took over the nation’s capital in August. Now, a Southern state and city are leading the way in taking them in.
Afghan Refugees are Getting Help
The Austin office has received 48 refugees in both August and September. This is according to data from Refugee Services of Texas. Austin has helped placed 127 refugees since October 1, 2020.
Austin, Texas is Reaching its Capacity on Taking in Refugees
At nearly 70 percent capacity is what the service has and what it can handle when it comes to refugees the office can process. Moreover, Austin can take up to 185 refugees.
Since October 1st, the service’s office in another city has taken in 21 refugees since August. Also 107 overall since October 1st. In fact, it’s only at about 75 percent capacity. Moreover, Austin is the only site that has received refugees in September.
An office in another local city is at about half its capacity with 60 total since October 1st. Thus, the Houston office has received 38 and is 33 percent full.
Also helping refugees and families get settling in both the Austin Independent School District and the University of Texas at Austin. Moreover, the AISD presented accepted 13 Afghan refugee students and has around 350 Afghan refugee students total.
Refugee Student Mentor Program
Revving up its refugee student mentor program is what UT is doing. This is as more refugee students have come in. In fact, the program was, in fact, started in 2015. Thus it was designeding to pair incoming students with UT volunteers. They speak the same language as them to help get the refugees to get adjusting to campus life.
Welcoming Afghan Allies to the U.S.
A broad majority of Americans say, across the political spectrum, they favor welcoming Afghan allies to the U.S. This is driving, in part, by an outpouring of support from groups that typically favor tougher restrictions on immigration.
