While some Americans have voiced their opposition to resettling Afghan refugees in the United States, a majority support the effort.
According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 68% of Americans say they support resettling refugees after they go through a security screening, while 27% oppose it.
A majority of Republicans also support the effort, with 56% saying they would take refugees in compared to 39% saying they should not be welcomed.
Seventy-nine percent of Democrats say they are in favor of bringing refugees into the country. Only 17% oppose it.
The Post noted there is a higher rate of acceptance than there was in 2015 when 54% opposed accepting refugees from Syria.
The Wall Street Journal reported more than 65,000 Afghans have been evacuated, citing numbers provided by the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security. Of the 65,000, 24,000 have come into the U.S. since August 17.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Friday as he outlined resettlement efforts, “Our commitment is an enduring one.”
He added, “This is not just a matter of the next several weeks. We will not rest until we have accomplished the ultimate goal.”
Mayorkas also said the United States has “a moral imperative to protect them, to support those who have supported this nation.”
According to the DHS secretary, the United States anticipates admitting at least 50,000 refugees.
“Our mission is not accomplished until we have safely evacuated all U.S. citizens who wish to leave Afghanistan or lawful permanent residents, all individuals who have assisted the United States in Afghanistan,” he said. “This effort will not end until we achieve that goal.”
President Joe Biden announced Friday former Delaware Governor Jack Markell will temporarily serve as the resettlement czar.
According to a White House official, Markell will work with both private and non-profit sectors to make sure the screening of the refugees is thorough, as CBS News reports.
