Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
About 1,000 Afghanistan evacuees are expected to arrive as early as this week at the Indiana National Guard’s Camp Atterbury training base, where they’ll be provided temporary housing and support services before further resettlement, state officials announced Wednesday.
Camp Atterbury, about 25 miles south of Indianapolis, is expected to receive roughly 5,000 Afghan refugees in the coming weeks, said Dale Lyles, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard. Up to 10,000 could be housed at the camp, if necessary, out of the 50,000 or so that are coming to the United States.
After the first wave of evacuees arrives, additional arrivals are anticipated in increments of 1,000.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana National Guard on Wednesday laid out initial plans and logistics for temporarily housing the thousands of Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury, including security measures and resettlement plans.
The refugees are expected to live on the grounds of the facility for at least 14 days to undergo medical screenings and will be placed on a medical hold status before they can be approved to leave the grounds, Lyles said.
Afghan refugees are currently either in Europe or the Middle East going through a vetting process from multiple federal agencies before boarding planes to the United States. Lyles said the vetting process is robust and will be performed at every stop the refugees make before setting foot on Camp Atterbury grounds. After landing in the U.S., refugees will go through another vetting process before being cleared to go to Atterbury or one of the eight other U.S. military facilities tapped to house them.
Once at Atterbury, they will undergo more security screenings. Local residents should not be concerned about security risks, Holcomb and Lyles said.
“We will know exactly who they are when they come to Camp Atterbury because of this thorough vetting process,” Lyles said.
The state was given a heads-up two weeks ago that Afghan refugees might be coming to Atterbury, so preparation has been happening for a while. About 800 soldiers from Texas’ Fort Hood are coming to Camp Atterbury to assist, including military police, nurses and medics. Camp Atterbury’s Garrison Command of 220 soldiers was mobilized for the mission.
Security will be heightened at Atterbury, but Lyles said the guard has no reason to believe the camp will be a target while it houses the refugees. The guard is working with local law enforcement in Johnson County and the surrounding area to address any security concerns.
All medical treatment will be done at Atterbury, where the facility has the capabilities to handle trauma care, mental health care and more. Refugees will be offered COVID-19 vaccines as well as all other vaccines that are required for visas.
The local hospitals in Johnson County will not be needed for treatment, especially as they deal with surges in COVID-19 patients, Lyles said.
A medical team from Kentucky’s Fort Knox will arrive at Camp Atterbury on Wednesday night, he added.
Whether refugees can leave Atterbury after the initial 14-day hold period will be determined by their visa status, Lyles said. The exact logistics of the resettlement process are not clear at the moment because the Indiana National Guard is focusing on getting them here first. But several state agencies—including the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the state Department of Education and more—are ready to help provide resources to those who wish to stay permanently in Indiana.
“There is a process that has to be conducted first and foremost and that is as generalized,” Holcomb said. “We want to be there on the back end of that process, to welcome these evacuees to permanent freedom. … I do believe that folks will fall in love with Indiana as much as we have. And I hope some of this talent stays close.”
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Awesome! Good for Indiana. Hope the refugees will find that Hoosier hospitality Indiana is touted for.
+1
+2
I’m sure they are all vaccinated, tested and have their appropriate visas. Just like those at the southern border. They ought to be put up in Washington or let Mr. President host them at Camp David.
For gosh sakes, Anthony – your own kind (GOP-ers) aren’t vaccinated! Check your conscience, if that’s still possible. WWJD?
Have them been vetted? Are they terrorists or allies? Does anyone care? Does anyone know? Scares the crap out of me. This is how infiltration and take over happens. What is Holcomb even thinking to agree to this?
Debbie, they were screened in Kabul by the State Dept. Keep up.
They were all tested upon arrival to the US. They are quarentined if they tested positive. They’re also all being offered vaccines. Everyone picked up by border patrol at the southern border are also tested. They have a lower positivity rate than the general US population.
You and Debbie sure are showing your racism, and lack of ability to read the news. Listen to something other than that fascist Tucker.
Wesley +1
Ah yes, getting scared because Muslims will be living on a military base while their visa paperwork processes.
Get a life. We’re lucky to have them here. Maybe you guys should travel to Muslim countries; it might fix your racism.
Debbie, what were they even thinking when any of our ancestors arrived on these shores hoping for refuge and a dream? Come on. We’re all humans. The Afghan refugees were born with crappy luck. They deserve some generosity and kindness.
Let’s resettle them along the RedLine to increase ridership.
So please tell, what now is Red Line ridership? What do you desire it to be? What about other routes – 38 or 8 or 19 – do these too require ridership increases.
Transit ridership in Indianapolis and nationwide, nationwide, nationwide has decrease significantly due to the Covid pandemic. Apparently, some people do not understand this fact. Many fewer people were making trip to work; many were working remotely; many stopped working.
Traffic volumes decreased as well.
But both transit ridership and traffic volumes are increasing. But the nation remains in the throes of the pandemic. Rational thinking should reveal this.