This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the state has received notification that 855 Afghan evacuees will come to Ohio through the U.S. Department of State’s Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program. 345 of those individuals are expected to be placed in Columbus.
Over the next six months, Afghan evacuees will be placed with eight resettlement agencies in northeast and Central Ohio, as well as Cincinnati and Toledo. The Columbus resettlement agencies to receive Afghan evacuees are Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) and US Together.
“These are individuals who have been partners with United States and deserve our support in return for the support they’ve given us,” said Governor DeWine in a statement. “Thank you to the resettlement agencies and communities who have stepped forward and demonstrated they have the resources necessary to help these individuals in their time of need.”
On Monday, Sept. 13, Columbus City Council passed a resolution declaring Columbus a sanctuary for Afghan refugees as part of the City of Columbus’ Welcoming Week.
Council said it would support local resettlement agencies in their work.
“We’re on the cusp of a once in a generation opportunity to show welcome to strangers,” said Angie Plummer, executive director of CRIS. “They’ll become our neighbors and our friends, and we have an opportunity to show the kind of welcome that Columbus always shows to refugees and immigrants.”
A first group of 37,000 Afghan evacuees are expected to be placed nationwide. Details about the federal APA program can be found at dhs.gov/allieswelcome.