Ted Hesson and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. government plans to establish a center in Northern Virginia for Afghan evacuees. However, concerns were raised by the sheriff of the region before the official announcement.

It will open after the closing of the final eight military bases housing tens or thousands of refugees from Afghanistan, which was completed in August. A senior U.S. official said that the centre would be staffed in part by U.S. government agencies. It could open by February or March.

Two sources claim that the location being investigated is located in Leesburg Virginia. They spoke anonymously.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated that they were still trying to verify the exact location of the center.

Loudoun County’s sheriff, from which Leesburg is situated, released a statement on Thursday stating that DHS had informed it of plans to transport approximately 2,000 Afghan refugees per month from Dulles International Airport to the National Conference Center (NCC).

According to the statement, Sheriff Michael Chapman expressed concerns over a lack of communication, planning and language barriers, as well as about “the NCC’s unfenced proximity in a residential neighbourhood and two schools”.

DHS didn’t immediately reply to our request for comment regarding the concerns of the sheriff. Chapman claimed that he has spoken with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the issue.

The remaining Afghans currently housed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey – the last of the eight sites on military bases – are expected to be resettled in communities around the country in the coming days.

MAJOR MILESTONE

It is an important milestone in U.S. president Joe Biden’s emergency evacuation campaign, which was launched after the Taliban overran Afghanistan in august.

DHS reported Tuesday that approximately 1,200 Afghans remained at Fort Dix base. Reuters has been informed by the DHS that the base will remain open for evacuees while they await resettlement at the new processing centre.

In the biggest effort since Vietnam War, approximately 80,000 Afghans were resettled in America as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

The base population included those applying for Special Immigrant visa (NYSE:) which was available to Afghans who are at high risk of Taliban retaliation after they worked for U.S. government.

Some others were temporarily admitted by “humanitarian parole”, with the option of applying for asylum.

Biden’s administration has asked Congress for a faster route to Afghan citizenship.

While the U.S. evaluates cases, and faces logistical hurdles to process admissions requests for thousands of Afghans who are vulnerable, they remain abroad.

Reuters reports that Afghans who are eligible and living in third countries might be permitted entry by an expedited asylum process.

However, the options for Afghans who are still in Afghanistan are very limited. According to data as of February 2, the U.S. had approved just 170 out of 43,000 Afghans who applied for “humanitarian parole” in order to allow them to travel to the United States.