Monroe County, Wisconsin – Adult male Afghan evacuees have brought “purported” child brides to Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy, according to a report from the Associated Press.
That disturbing report comes on the heels of vetting concerns raised by Congressman Tom Tiffany, who said, when he went to Fort McCoy a few days ago, that none of the Afghan evacuees currently there was carrying a special immigrant visa that comes with in-depth vetting.
The AP’s report, though, raises a new concern: Sexual abuse of minors.
The AP reported, on Sept. 2, 2021, that an internal document says the State Department has sought “urgent guidance” from other agencies “after purported child brides were brought to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.”
The AP obtained secret documents to back up its story. The government has kept a tight lid on information out of Fort McCoy, including the identities of the evacuees. Wisconsin Right Now has obtained a memo that outlines the secrecy mandates. Read that secrecy order here: TAG Policy Memo_Prohibit Photos of Afghan Refugees_31 Aug 2021.
The concerns aren’t limited to Fort McCoy. At another site, Afghan girls alleged that they were raped by older men, the AP reports
The State Department has told AP that the claims are anecdotal and tough to prove.
The AP cited an Aug. 27 situation report “sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates abroad as well as military command centers in Florida” that “points to potential issues involving young girls and older men, some of whom claim to have more than one wife at Fort McCoy.”
“Intake staff at Fort McCoy reported multiple cases of minor females who presented as ‘married’ to adult Afghan men, as well as polygamous families,” the document says, according to AP. “Department of State has requested urgent guidance.”
The article originally appeared at Wisconsin Right Now.
