After Visiting Camp Upshur, Blumenthal Urges Biden Administration to Increase Pace of Afghan Refugee Resettlement During Armed Services Committee Hearing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) shared concerns with senior Department of Defense officials regarding the pace of resettling Afghan refugees who are currently temporarily housed on U.S. military bases. Blumenthal commended “the extraordinary work” being done by the U.S. Marine Corps and their civilian partners, and urged the Biden Administration to use all available resources to increase the number of refugees being transferred from temporary housing on military bases to permanent housing elsewhere.

“After my visit to Camp Upshur, I have still significant concerns about the pace of resettlement. We were tragically slow in planning the execution of the evacuation mission, the airlift of 120,000 people that was accomplished even though many, many remain. We cannot begin to rely on optimistic expectations. We must plan for reality and be ready for the worst case situation,” Blumenthal warned.

“We were told that the Afghans brought to Camp Upshur would be departing for resettlement in three to four weeks. I don’t believe that number can possibly be accurate – three to four weeks….As these locations reach maximum capacity, we face a looming crisis. The processing of our Afghan guests is completed quickly, one or two days for intake. At that point they await resettlement opportunities. Currently the weather is good, it’s the fall and a temperate one at that, but it will change. And even with the heating in those tents, life will become more and more difficult.”

During his remarks, Blumenthal shared his experience visiting with Afghan refugees who are currently living at Camp Upshur in Quantico, Virginia. One of the families Blumenthal met with in Quantico escaped Afghanistan on an evacuation charter flight that Blumenthal’s office helped facilitate. Blumenthal reiterated his call for additional resources and coordination among federal agencies to evacuate at-risk Afghan allies.

“I met with a family of five that were able to escape on charter flights from Mazar-e Sharif. They left after withdrawal had been completed, our withdrawal of our military. These were flights that my office was involved in facilitating so I was just incredibly moved to meet with this family,” Blumenthal said.

“Sadly, more members of their very family are hiding and seeking assistance so they can leave Afghanistan. Literally brothers and other family members who are in grave danger. More needs to be done in short to help these people escape and keep faith with them.”

Video of Blumenthal’s remarks at today’s hearing is available here and a full transcript is copied below.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your continuing attention to these issues and having this hearing today.

Gentleman, last week I had the opportunity to visit Quantico Camp Upshur. As of the date of my visit, Camp Upshur housed 4,410 Afghan men, women, children who were able to escape Afghanistan. The camp has a maximum capacity of about 5,000 people – a number that it will probably soon reach.

I want to first of all commend the extraordinary work done by the United States Marine Corps at Quantico and their partners from other military branches as well as the civilians from the State Department, CDC, and others.

But during our briefings there, we had the opportunity to not only meet those Marines who were hosting these Afghan guests – they call them guests quite correctly – but also representatives of the civilian agencies charged with their resettlement. And we were fortunate enough to speak with the people housed at Camp Upshur, the refugees who have escaped and who have managed to avoid the torture or death that is threatened to many who remain there.

I met with a family of five that were able to escape on charter flights from Mazar-e Sharif. They left after withdrawal had been completed, our withdrawal of our military. These were flights that my office was involved in facilitating so I was just incredibly moved to meet with this family. It happened by coincidence that this family was chosen to meet with me. They were the beneficiaries of the charter flights that my office worked day and night to facilitate. Sadly, more members of their very family are hiding and seeking assistance so they can leave Afghanistan. Literally brothers and other family members who are in grave danger. More needs to be done in short to help these people escape and keep faith with them.

After my visit to Camp Upshur, I have still significant concerns about the pace of resettlement. We were tragically slow in planning the execution of the evacuation mission, the airlift of 120,000 people that was accomplished even though many, many remain. We cannot begin to rely on optimistic expectations. We must plan for reality and be ready for the worst case situation.

We were told that the Afghans brought to Camp Upshur would be departing for resettlement in three to four weeks. I don’t believe that number can possibly be accurate – three to four weeks.

When I visited, there had already been 52 births, a joyous occasion for sure, but one that prevents not only the mother and child from being able to travel and be resettled, but the entire family unit. That’s just an example of the impediments to resettlement and I think we need to focus on the fact that the pace of resettlement very simply is not keeping up with the pace of new arrivals.

As these locations reach maximum capacity, we face a looming crisis. The processing of our Afghan guests is completed quickly, one or two days for intake. At that point they await resettlement opportunities. Currently the weather is good, it’s the fall and a temperate one at that, but it will change. And even with the heating in those tents, life will become more and more difficult.

The tents and other expeditionary structures used for housing and feeding people do not currently afford the kind of heat that is necessary. If the temperature drops, this inevitability may force closing of the tents at Pioneer City which currently houses approximately 1,000 individuals.

So before my time expires, I just want to close by saying we face 75,000 to 80,000 seeking resettlement. Of those Afghan refugees, a total of 120,000 evacuated. We have failed to provide the resources so far that will enable effective resettlement. It is a looming crisis and I’m going to ask for your response in writing since my time has expired as to how medical care, housing, and other services will be provided at the camps and what will be done to ensure more expeditious resettlement.

Thank you. 

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