PRESS SECRETARY JOHN F. KIRBY: OK.
Good afternoon, everybody. We'll get started here as we talked about
earlier. Today we're delighted to have join us General VanHerck,
Commander of U.S. Northern Command, NORAD. The general has some opening
comments about the efforts that Northern Command is expending to help
our interagency colleagues process Afghans in the special immigrant visa
program and get on to their new life. I'm going to turn it over to him
for just a second. He'll have some opening comments then we'll go to
Q&A.
Just like we've done all week, I'll moderate. I'll call on you. Please
when I do before you ask your question of the general identify
yourselves and your outlet so he knows who he's talking to. And then we
do have a hard stop in 30 minutes at 4 o'clock. So with that, General,
can you hear me OK?
GENERAL GLEN D. VANHERCK: John, I
have you loud and clear. How me?
MR. KIRBY: Good, sir. Good. Thank
you so much. Thanks for joining us, and General, I'll turn it over to
you, sir.
GEN. VANHERCK: Yes. Thank you very much, John. It's great to be with you
and the press corps there today. Before I go on I just want to remind
everybody to keep those warriors and heroes that lost their lives
yesterday in our thoughts and prayers along with their families and for
the folks that continue to serve in Afghanistan and around the globe
doing our nation's business. We should keep them in our thoughts and
prayers.
You know, less than a month ago I was with you there in the room talking
about our Global Information Dominance Experiment 3, and today I'm here
to discuss U.S. Northern Command's support to Operation Allies Refuge.
In addition to our no-fail mission of defending the homeland, United
States Northern Command provide Defense Support of Civil Authorities or
DSCA. Today our DSCA operations range from providing COVID medical
assistance, relieving pressure on the overburdened medical systems in
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama currently while simultaneously
supporting wild land firefighting in the western United States.
Additionally, we're providing support to the Department of Homeland
Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by conducting
detection and monitoring and transportation support for the southwest
border mission.
We're also ready to conduct hurricane relief efforts if required. And of
course, U.S. Northern Command's providing support within the continental
United States for Operation Allies Refuge.
On July 14, the White House announced Operation Allies Refuge, which
provides eligible Afghan nationals and their immediate families with
support of the U.S government the opportunity to relocate to the United
States.
The Department of State subsequently activated the Afghanistan
Coordination Task Force and requested the Department of Defense provide
temporary support for up to 3,500 Afghan special immigrant applicants.
On August 15, the Department of State requested and the Secretary of
Defense approved additional support for Afghan special immigrant visa
applicants and other vulnerable Afghans.
In response to this request, the U.S. Northern Command, we're providing
temporary housing, medical screening, transportation, and other services
for both Afghan special immigrant visa applicants and at-risk Afghans.
U.S. Northern Command has been tasked to build capacities to support up
to 50,000 Afghans. To do that, the Department of Defense under U.S.
Northern Command has established task forces at Fort Lee in Virginia,
Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, and Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
And on August 25, the Secretary of Defense authorized three additional
military installations to provide support inside the United States for
Afghan special immigrant visa applicants, their families, and other
at-risk individuals. This including Marine Corps Base Quantico and Fort
Pickett in Virginia and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
As of today, Fort Pickett has a capacity of 1,000 Afghans, and we're
working with the other two installations, Holloman and Quantico, to
finalize their final respective capacities.
Additionally while not a task force, U.S. Northern Command is supporting
Operation Allies Refuge with services and additional forces, including
assisting with managing the flow of evacuees at Dulles Airport and the
Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania. That airport is
opening up today. Additional sites are possible.
Here's a snapshot real quickly of some of the numbers that you'll see at
the task forces. So Task Force Eagle at Fort Lee, Virginia stood up in
July and currently has a capacity for 1,750. To-date Task Force Eagle at
Fort Lee has supported 1,647 Afghan special immigrant visa applicants
and their families, nearly half of whom have completed the process and
have moved on with the support of the Department of State,
non-governmental, intergovernmental organizations, and volunteer
organizations.
Task Force Bliss at Fort Bliss, Texas currently has a capacity of 5,000
and received first flights with vulnerable Afghans on Saturday, August
21. The base has supported to date 2,160 Afghans housed in a mix of hard
and soft structures. Final capacity's expected to be at least 10,000.
Task Force McCoy, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin currently has a capacity of
10,000 and received their first flights with at-risk Afghans on Sunday,
August 22. To-date Task Force McCoy has supported 2,383 Afghans who are
being housed in hard structures with shower and bathroom facilities
located in each building.
Task Force Liberty at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
currently has a capacity of 3,500 and received its first group of
Afghans Wednesday, August 25. To-date Task Force Liberty has supported
1,192 Afghans who are being housed in a mix of hard and soft-sided
structures. Final capacity at Task Force Liberty is expected to be at
least 10,000.
So today our total capacity at these four installations is approximately
21,000 and growing. We're steadily working to increase capacity to the
50,000 number by September 15.
The number of military installations supporting this effort could
increase in the future. The request for assistance from the State
Department specifically requested that the Department of Defense provide
culturally-appropriate food, water, bedding, religious services,
recreational activities, and other services such as transportation from
the port of entry to the location of accommodations -- and some medical
services as well.
My team of military, civilian, and contract personnel are working
closely with the numerous agencies both government and nongovernment to
ensure further requirements and additional capabilities are available
for vulnerable Afghans.
In addition, the Department of Homeland Security is working to conduct a
screening and security vetting for all Special Immigrant Visa applicants
and other vulnerable Afghans in the fastest way possible consistent with
the dual goals of protecting national security and providing protection
for vulnerable Afghans who supported the United States. That process
involves biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence,
law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from across the
interagency community.
We are working around the clock to vet all Afghans being evacuated
before allowing them into the United States. During recent visits to
Fort Lee, Fort McCoy, and Fort Bliss I saw the operation firsthand, and
I proudly watched our U.S. personnel operating with compassion as they
helped Afghans and their families who have done so much for the United
States and our allies through two decades of conflict.
I also talked with some of the Afghans in each location. During a
conversation I had with one Afghan family, I asked if they had what they
needed, if they were doing OK, getting enough to eat, and getting enough
to sleep. The father thanked me, saying they had what they needed, and
that it was the first time in a long time that he has slept without
being afraid for his family's safety.
So, thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines are working across
the United States to complete this incredibly important mission to
provide our Afghan colleagues a safe harbor while they finalize their
immigration process.
I'm also grateful for the support of the communities surrounding each of
our bases, and for the volunteers and others who are aiding in all of
these efforts. Together we're honoring our commitment to our Afghan
partners and their families, and I look forward to taking your
questions.
Thank you.
MR. KIRBY: Thank you, General.
We'll start with Lita.
Question: Hi, General. Lita Baldor with the Associated Press. I have one quick
numbers question for you, and then a second. Can you tell us how many
evacuees have gone through Dulles? The governor said today the number is
14,000. We were told earlier there was about 7,000 SIV. Can you square
those numbers for us? And then I have a follow-up.
GEN. VANHERCK: Lita unfortunately I don't have a specific number for
you. State Department would be best to answer that. I can tell you what
has come to us, and that's 6,578 at four separate locations. I will tell
you what we're seeing is of those that do arrive at Dulles, about 40
percent or so have been coming to us -- others have been AMCITs and in
other status such as having a green card already where they can move on
from Dulles.
Question: Thank you. And my follow-up is, can you give us an assessment of both
the security risks as well as the COVID risks as you're doing -- and
everyone is doing these screenings, what security risks are you seeing?
Are you seeing a number of people who are showing up on lists? And then,
what about COVID? How is that testing going, and what are the threats at
the bases for COVID?
GEN. VANHERCK: Thanks, Lita. So for security, I would defer to DHS who
runs that operations. I am very comfortable, we've worked to streamline
that operation. As I said in my opening comments, we're doing
biographical and biometric testing across the various agencies of the
interagency, to include our counterterrorism and intelligence
communities. What we're seeing is folks coming across cleared by that
process, which I am comfortable with.
With regard to COVID, the Afghans coming from the Middle East into our
locations that we have stood up are all being tested, actually multiple
times. We test them 100 percent upon arrival at each location. They're
getting tested at Dulles as well, and en route they get tested.
I'll give you some numbers. We are seeing -- so far to-date, when I was
at Fort McCoy on Wednesday only three out of more than 1,300 had tested
positive. When I went to Fort Bliss the same day, one out of more than
1,200 had tested positive for COVID. I hope that helps.
Question: Thank you. [Inaudible]
MR. KIRBY: One out of 1,200.
Jen?
Question: Hi, General Vanherck, it's Jennifer Griffin with Fox News. I just
want to go back a little bit to numbers, what percentage, would you say,
of the people who are processing onto these bases are SIV holders or
applicants? Or are you also housing people who applied for refugee
status? Just trying to understand the breakdown of who is on these
bases.
And then secondly, there are reports from Dulles that some of those --
some of the commercial flights that have come in have had to keep people
on the tarmac, onboard planes for up to 10 hours while screeners come
onboard. Is anything being done to rectify that? Is that a DHS issue?
Are you aware of that issue at Dulles?
GEN. VANHERCK: Thanks, Jennifer. On the SIV numbers, I'd defer to the
State Department. I don't have that exact number in front of me. What I
would tell you is the SIV numbers have not been in excess of 50 percent,
but I don't have the detail right now.
With regards to the problems you're describing at Dulles, I am aware of
the longer waits that you describe. We worked very hard over the last
couple days to make the process as efficient and effective -- when I say
we, DOD worked with the process owner, DHS, to streamline this --
specifically customs and border protection, along with TSA who owns that
process, if you will.
Some of the challenges were being -- use of the proper vetting
authorities, if you will, to ensure that we looked at the same ones and
that they were coming across, we knew exactly who was certifying that --
and that's customs that was certifying it across to the other side. What
was happening is, if the improper system was utilized they were being
flagged as red on the receiving end at Dulles.
That should actually give you comfort, Jennifer, that we're not leaning
towards more conservative and pushing them out, but actually ensuring
verification. That led to the delays that you're talking about. When I
took the brief this morning, we had no airplanes on the ramp waiting at
Dulles for processing through customs. And I don't have an update for
you right now, but I believe we're in a good position, Jennifer.
Question: Thank you.
KIRBY: Tara.
Question: Thank you general. Tara Copp with Defense One. Following up on Jen’s
question, can you talk about the challenges that you've had with the DOD
and DHS systems -- the biometric systems actually being able to pass
that information in a timely manner? And explain a little bit more about
how all of the different flagging red that you've seen because names are
passed through different systems?
GEN. VANHERCK: I really can't answer that question. That's a question
for DHS, and I apologize. I just don't have that information.
Question: To follow-up a little bit more, humanitarian -- with all of the
thousands of Afghans that are going onto these bases, many of them left
their country with very little, and probably have different levels of
needs to start life over here.
How long is DOD prepared to house and feed these refugees?
GEN. VANHERCK: So, we're prepared to house them and feed them as long as
it takes to get them through the process, and as long as the Secretary
approves that. I agree with you, they're coming here starting over with
what they bring with them.
We've been incredibly well supported by the local communities, the
nongovernmental organizations, et cetera that have jumped in to help
these families with things of need such as diapers, formula, clothing --
you name it. You see the gamut when you're talking these large numbers,
and we've just been tremendously blessed to have great support.
Question: [Inaudible] willing to host as they go through the process, what do
you mean by the process? If they don't have a place to go, how long can
they stay on base?
GEN. VANHERCK: Well, they'll stay on base until they complete the
Special Immigrant Visa processing process, which is owned by the State
Department with the support -- we provide medical support, we provide
contract medical support as part of that.
So each of the applicants will go through a screening process -- such as
screening for diseases, vaccinations -- if they need vaccinated, we'll
have the International Migration Organization come in toward the end of
the process and work with them on where they need to be relocated. Many
of them have family already here in the United States, or they'll be
relocated to places where there's already Afghan populations, et cetera.
What we saw at Fort Lee, with those that already had some type of a
Special Immigrant Visa processing is that was taking about five to seven
days. We won't know exactly how long that's going to take until the
State Department and everybody is on the ground full-up, and we're ready
to begin processing. And remember, we've only been at this for a few
days. And so at each location we're going to spin up rather quickly here
and begin the application and the process for special immigrant status.
MR. KIRBY: Oren.
Question: Oren Lieberman, CNN. The SIV application process -- the screening
process is a long process, what happens if at some point while somebody
is on a military base they fail that screening? Are they going back to
Afghanistan, or what's the plan there? And then, John, are you also
taking questions?
MR. KIRBY: Later.
GEN. VANHERCK: I would defer you to Department of State for that, that's
really their area of expertise. We're prepared to continue this support
until we get through this process, in support of the State Department.
Question: There must be a plan here, if somebody fails a screening process and
is already on a U.S. military facility?
GEN. VANHERCK: So let me go back, Oren. So they have gone through the
screening process before putting feet in the continental United States
from a security perspective. When they are through customs they are
paroled into the United States of America. And if they have relatives --
theoretically they can go with those relatives.
What we're doing is helping them get through the screening process. And
so we provide all of the governmental organizations to support that, the
medical process, et cetera. And so, we are not doing security screening
in support of State Department. This is part of the application for
Special Immigrant Status. I hope that clarifies it.
MR. KIRBY: Tony.
Question: Hi sir, Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg News. Do you have a breakdown by
gender roughly of how many women, girls, boys and men have been
processed by DOD? It begs a lot of questions in terms of separate
facilities. And then I have a second question about culturally
appropriate food? Are we talking MREs or humanitarian MREs, or local
kitchens being hired to cook?
GEN. VANHERCK: Hey, thanks, Tony. So, we're seeing about 50/50, male
female. That can change back and forth, we're seeing about 15 percent
with children, we're seeing a lot of, of the females who are pregnant.
So, I don't have a specific detail for what you asked about for the
total number with children, male, female, et cetera.
But that gives you an idea. We're seeing right now 513 children at one
location for a total of about 30 percent of that the location. With
regards to your second question, we contract to provide support of, you
know, meals, multiple meals for large windows.
So, for example, we'll provide a breakfast meal for Halal for their
culturally appropriate for a three-hour window. We'll shut down for a
second. And when I say we, it's the contract support at each location.
Then we'll spin up for a lunch meal and we'll do the same for the
dinner. Most locations I believe will have or do have a 24-hour grab and
go. Culturally for the Afghans as well. I hope that answers your food
question.
MR. KIRBY: I'm going to go to the phones here. Lara Seligman, Politico.
Question: Hi John, thanks for taking my question. I wanted to ask, first of
all, Ned Price earlier said that he didn't know how many SIV's have been
evacuated. Can you square that, General, with the numbers that you gave
earlier?
Is there a discrepancy between the ones that have been evacuated and the
total number of people that have come to the United States? What is --
what is the difference there? And what is it that we're missing?
GEN. VANHERCK: Lara, you need to ask the State Department. I don't have
that data for you. That's a question for them.
Question: And are that as a follow up? Are there -- how many SIV's and other
Afghans do you estimate are still at the Kabul airport awaiting a flight
out?
GEN. VANHERCK: I'll defer to General McKenzie and the forces forward. I
don't know that answer. The State Department or CENTCOM may have that
answer for you, Lara.
MR. KIRBY: It was about between three and 5,000 earlier today. But as
we've talked about before, this is a snapshot in time. And it literally
changes by the hour but the last thing that I saw was somewhere between
three and 5,000. And again, changes hour to hour. Courtney.
Question: Hey General Vanherck, it's Courtney Kube from NBC News. I just have a
couple of clarifications. So, when you talk about how they -- these
individuals have already gone through the screening process before they
even set foot here in the United States. Does that mean that their names
have already been run through the National Counterterrorism database?
GEN. VANHERCK: Courtney, thanks. It is my understanding that each one of
their names and their biographical data and their biometric data has
been run through the established databases.
Question: Second, you also mentioned some of the medical support that the
military is providing, including vaccinations. Does that include COVID
vaccines at the bases? Are those mandatory or optional?
GEN. VANHERCK: The vaccines are offered to them. They're offered at
Dulles. We offer them as well at the task force locations, they are not
mandatory. We see many of them are taking the vaccine if they've not
already had it.
Question: One on the paperwork, that they're getting assistance for their SIV
paperwork. Is there any U.S. military component? Like do you have any
military members who are assisting with that paperwork?
GEN. VANHERCK: So, the paperwork on our end for accountability purposes
where they arrive at the task forces. We absolutely are part of that
paperwork process to ensure accountability to provide security et cetera
for them. At each of those locations prior to arriving at our task force
locations. We are not directly involved with the paperwork process. I
don't know the role in CENTCOM of any of their forces. I'd defer you to
General McKenzie. On questions for any DOD members forward.
Question: General, this is Meghan Myers from military times. I wanted to ask
why these particular bases were chosen for SIVs. Was it because of faith
reasons hard and soft? You know buildings or was it because of proximity
to Afghan communities in the area where some of them might end up being
resettled?
GEN. VANHERCK: It was not necessarily for the specific location to an
Afghan community. The department took a look at each location to ensure
that had sufficient capacity. That there was capability in the region to
support that. The limits of readiness and training for the local in –
infrastructure and the bases was also a consideration.
Those were all provided by the services. The services provided within
the recommendations for the department, they took a look at each
location and offered up those installations for approval by the
department.
MR. KIRBY: We'll take one more than let the General close it out. Terace.
Question: Hi, General Vanherck. My name is Terace Garnier with Newsy. For the
children that are on base. Are there any educational classes being
provided for them? If not, are those children able to go to the CDC on
base to help kind of with babysitting and kind of educating them on
American reasons and what not?
GEN. VANHERCK: That's a great question. So, to answer the last part
first. Currently, I'm not aware of any of them using CDCs on base. But
what I will tell you there's an outpouring of support in the local
areas, local communities, organizations non-governmental that have
showed up at each location to provide them coloring books, books to
read, educational opportunities, sports.
At Fort Bliss, when I was down there, the soldiers had built soccer
goals and set up soccer areas for them to practice and play soccer. To
keep them occupied. So that's a great news story.
MR. KIRBY: OK, General. Sir, I'm going to turn it over to you for any
closing thoughts you might have.
GEN. VANHERCK: Well, thanks, John. And for everybody in the room and on
the phones, it's a privilege to talk to you today. And it's really a
privilege to be executing this mission for those that have helped us for
oftentimes, a couple of decades. We continue to look forward to
supporting them. We're prepared to do this, as long as it takes to
ensure that we get them settled here back in the United States of
America.
I'm really proud of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, Coasties.
I've got Coasties here working for us, guardians, you name it. We're
working very hard. Every time I look them in the eye, and I talked to
them. You cannot imagine how proud and privileged they are to support
this mission. And they tell me that all the time when I've been out on
circulation.
I feel the exact same way. And we look forward to continuing to make
this a successful operation. So, thanks for letting me tell the story.
MR. KIRBY: General I appreciate your time this afternoon. OK, I got time
to take a few on my own.
Question: Just a few quick things I think popped up on social media in the past
hour, or so. Firstly, have the Taliban entered or taken control of any
parts of the military section of HKIA that you're aware of?
MR. KIRBY: The Taliban are not in control of any part of Hamid Karzai
International Airport. I saw that report too. It's false.
Question: Including any of the gates?
MR. KIRBY: They are not in charge of any of the gates. They are not in
charge any of the airport operations. That is still under U.S. military
control. Lita.
Question: John, can you give us any further details on the attack at this
point? Anything about whether the Marines noticed the attacker coming?
Anything about the firing of the shots? Has any of that kind of cleared
up at this point?
MR. KIRBY: I don't have any additional details from what General
McKenzie laid out yesterday. Again, we're going to do the forensics on
this. And try to learn as much as we can. And when we have some
verifiable context to be able to talk to you about that, we'll do it.
But we're still digging into it right now.
Question: Just one other thing. Do you have any timing on when you believe the
aircraft with the remains will arrive at Dover?
MR. KIRBY: I don't. And as you might imagine, we're -- in the services
are in contact with the families and they'll notify the families through
their Casualty Assistance Case Officers. And I think I want to respect
that process. As you know, sadly, from covering this for so long Lita. I
mean, it doesn't -- usually it the process doesn't take that long.
Question: Will the President and Secretary go to Dover to meet the families of
the fallen?
MR. KIRBY: I'm not -- I don't have any schedule announcements to make.
But we're all mindful of the importance of any return of fallen members.
And certainly, these included. But I just don't have any things to
announce from the schedule perspective. Tony.
Question: Do you have any status report on the 17 wounded at Landstuhl in terms
of whether they're mostly stable or out of danger, or?
MR. KIRBY: I don't have an update on the wounded. The last count I had
was at 20 of them have gone to Landstuhl. The remaining -- there were
some additional wounded, but that they were treated on site and returned
to duty.
I don't know what the status is. And as you know Tony, we don't usually
get into the details of, of wounded even anonymously. We just don't
typically talk about that.
Question: Is it useful if you get a sense of whether most are stable or
[Inaudible]?
MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to promise that Tony. And we just don't talk
about the status of wounded as I think you can understand I mean.
There's real privacy issues there that we want to be mindful of.
Question: OK.
MR. KIRBY: Yes. OK. Thanks. We'll see you -- I'm planning to do this
again tomorrow morning. So, I'm shooting for around 11 o'clock in the
morning tomorrow for a regular update with General Taylor. And then
we'll see what the rest of the weekend looks like.
Alright, thank you.
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