As Afghan refugees flee their country, Gov. Tim Walz has made it clear that Minnesota is “eager” to accept and welcome them.
In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Minnesota has “a strong tradition of welcoming those who seek refuge and supporting them to rebuild their lives and become part of our communities.”
Walz and Flanagan wrote that because citizens in Minnesota have a strong belief in “treating all people with respect and dignity,” the state is “eager” to accept Afghan families, help them transition into communities, and allow them to “contribute to our state.”
Some organizations have already begun taking in Afghan refugees — the International Institute of Minnesota helped 13 Afghans resettle over the last week.
Arrive Ministries, another non-governmental organization in Minnesota, said it plans on helping 35 refugees settle by the end of September.
“We stand ready to work with you and your administration to welcome families as this effort to provide safety and refuge continues,” Walz said in his letter to Biden.
Minnesota is famous for its migrant intake, which is higher per capita than other any state in the nation. The Somali and Hmong communities in the Twin Cities are larger than anywhere else in the U.S.
A White House communications director said Friday they do not have a “precise number” of Americans currently stranded in Afghanistan, per Politico. Additionally, the White House has declined to say whether it is prioritizing Americans when evacuating people from Afghanistan.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
