This story was originally published in The Commercial Appeal on Sept. 9, 2021.
As soon as next week, new refugees from Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Memphis and more Afghans are expected to arrive here for the next several months, said PJ Moore, director of the Christian refugee resettlement agency World Relief Memphis.
The numbers are relatively small: 36 people during the first few months, he said. But he said each of the newcomers will require heavy support and orientation to get through the early days in the new country, to find work and in some cases, to learn English.
And only 11 of those new arrivals are being admitted in the “special immigrant visa” category, which qualifies them for a wide range of federal aid, including money for food and other support.
Read the full story here.