More Virginia sites set to welcome Afghan immigrant influx

By SARAH RANKIN
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration has received notification that the Department of Defense has authorized the use of Marine Corps Base Quantico to house Afghan refugees, as well as a national guard installation in central Virginia. Fort Lee, an Army training installation in Virginia, was already housing immigrants who recently fled Afghanistan. Capacity at Quantico and Fort Pickett in Nottoway County will ramp up in coming days to support about 5,000 and 10,000 people, respectively. That’s according to an email a senior Northam administration official received and shared with The Associated Press. The Department of Defense did not immediately return requests for comment.