Loudoun County has been informed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that Loudoun is among several locations that are under consideration for a “safe haven” facility as part of Operation Allies Welcome. Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall has issued a statement regarding the notice:
“Loudoun, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have informed my office that Loudoun is being considered as a safe haven location for people from Afghanistan who are asylum seekers. I’m told that those who would be processed through the federal government’s Operation Allies Welcome are former Afghanistan residents who were allies of the U.S. during the Afghanistan war and who have been fully vetted outside the United States before being allowed to enter the country. We do not yet know whether DHS will choose to bring a safe haven facility to Loudoun.
I have asked for and will receive a full briefing Friday morning from those agencies. If I learn the federal government has plans to set up this site, the county will be releasing more information and I will hold a community public information session as soon as possible where the county and federal government will provide information and answer questions.”
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