1/16
On August 15th, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and thousands of Afghans fled the country. Republicans spent the following weeks ripping the Biden Administration for abandoning our Afghan allies: interpreters, soldiers & innocent civilians. #velshi
On August 15th, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and thousands of Afghans fled the country. Republicans spent the following weeks ripping the Biden Administration for abandoning our Afghan allies: interpreters, soldiers & innocent civilians. #velshi
2/16
In that time, tens of thousands of Afghans actually did make it to the United States as refugees. And this week, all of these Republicans - every last one of them in the Senate - voted to curtail benefits for Afghan refugees. #velshi
In that time, tens of thousands of Afghans actually did make it to the United States as refugees. And this week, all of these Republicans - every last one of them in the Senate - voted to curtail benefits for Afghan refugees. #velshi
3/16
The amendment cutting those benefits - which would have been added to the spending bill being negotiated on Capitol hill - was ever-so narrowly defeated by Democrats. But it would have cut off housing, medical, food and other aid for resettled Afghans by 2023. #velshi
The amendment cutting those benefits - which would have been added to the spending bill being negotiated on Capitol hill - was ever-so narrowly defeated by Democrats. But it would have cut off housing, medical, food and other aid for resettled Afghans by 2023. #velshi
4/16
Right now, there are about 53,000 Afghans living on military bases in the U.S. who need to be resettled & integrated into American society. Aid & resettlement agencies are doing their best to help but the sudden evacuation from Afghan has put a strain on the process. #velshi
Right now, there are about 53,000 Afghans living on military bases in the U.S. who need to be resettled & integrated into American society. Aid & resettlement agencies are doing their best to help but the sudden evacuation from Afghan has put a strain on the process. #velshi
5/16
Many refugees escaped and arrived with insufficient documentation, only the belongings they could carry with them and, in many cases, they are alone, with members of their families facing a fraught and uncertain fate in a Taliban-run Afghanistan. #velshi
Many refugees escaped and arrived with insufficient documentation, only the belongings they could carry with them and, in many cases, they are alone, with members of their families facing a fraught and uncertain fate in a Taliban-run Afghanistan. #velshi
6/16
Or families that fled to whatever country they could get into. Or families that are dead. These Afghans are starting completely new lives. From scratch. In a country that is literally as foreign to them as can be. There's a language barrier & they need to find jobs. #velshi
Or families that fled to whatever country they could get into. Or families that are dead. These Afghans are starting completely new lives. From scratch. In a country that is literally as foreign to them as can be. There's a language barrier & they need to find jobs. #velshi
7/16
Their skills probably don't translate well to the American workforce. Whether they were a janitor or a brain surgeon in Afghan, they'll probably earn something close to min. wage at a bottom-of-the-barrel job, probably with no benefits. Such is the lot of a refugee. #velshi
Their skills probably don't translate well to the American workforce. Whether they were a janitor or a brain surgeon in Afghan, they'll probably earn something close to min. wage at a bottom-of-the-barrel job, probably with no benefits. Such is the lot of a refugee. #velshi
8/16
The federal govt does provide resettlement agencies w/ a one-time payment of $2,275 for each Afghan they serve; money that goes toward housing and basic necessities. Some of the refugees -those with the Special Immigrant Visas - are eligible for other benefits. #velshi
The federal govt does provide resettlement agencies w/ a one-time payment of $2,275 for each Afghan they serve; money that goes toward housing and basic necessities. Some of the refugees -those with the Special Immigrant Visas - are eligible for other benefits. #velshi
9/16
But the $2,275 is it. After that, they are on their own. Can you imagine? All of that, compounded with the reality that you may never return to your home country or see your family again. It’s unfathomable. #velshi
But the $2,275 is it. After that, they are on their own. Can you imagine? All of that, compounded with the reality that you may never return to your home country or see your family again. It’s unfathomable. #velshi
10/16
What’s also unfathomable is that, like so many refugees to this country, these Afghan refugees are happy. They are hopeful. And grateful to be in America. Two local news outlets in Wisconsin interviewed some refugees staying at Fort McCoy U.S. Army base. #velshi
What’s also unfathomable is that, like so many refugees to this country, these Afghan refugees are happy. They are hopeful. And grateful to be in America. Two local news outlets in Wisconsin interviewed some refugees staying at Fort McCoy U.S. Army base. #velshi
11/16
Here's what they said:
“I still can't believe that I'm here. I'm very happy to be here, and I think I’ll have a very bright future.”
“I am so happy I come to America.”
“I'm pretty sure I will have a good future for my family.” #velshi
Here's what they said:
“I still can't believe that I'm here. I'm very happy to be here, and I think I’ll have a very bright future.”
“I am so happy I come to America.”
“I'm pretty sure I will have a good future for my family.” #velshi
12/16
“When I was a kid I would say, I want to go to America. but I never thought my dream would come true.”
“I love this country.”
These people have been thrown into incredibly daunting situations; They have lost everything. #velshi
“When I was a kid I would say, I want to go to America. but I never thought my dream would come true.”
“I love this country.”
These people have been thrown into incredibly daunting situations; They have lost everything. #velshi
13/16
Yet, they are grateful to be in this land of opportunity. Thankful to have a shot at the American dream. I don't know about you, but these are the types of people I want living and working in my country. #velshi
Yet, they are grateful to be in this land of opportunity. Thankful to have a shot at the American dream. I don't know about you, but these are the types of people I want living and working in my country. #velshi
14/16
They are here and ready to participate in what they believe to be the liberties that exist in America—the opposite of what their beloved homeland now faces. These people remember what some of us have forgotten about the promise that is America. #velshi
They are here and ready to participate in what they believe to be the liberties that exist in America—the opposite of what their beloved homeland now faces. These people remember what some of us have forgotten about the promise that is America. #velshi
15/16
Immigrants and refugees remind us that, at its best, America is a place where, if you work hard, and get a fair stab at an education, you can grow a business, get elected to public office, become anything you want to be. #velshi
Immigrants and refugees remind us that, at its best, America is a place where, if you work hard, and get a fair stab at an education, you can grow a business, get elected to public office, become anything you want to be. #velshi
16/16
These Afghans will be better off by being in America, And America will be better off for them. #velshi
These Afghans will be better off by being in America, And America will be better off for them. #velshi
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