By Jacob Arnett
One year ago, I wrote an article for the DD214 Chronicle entitled “Christmas, Afghanistan,” in which I described the perilous situation Afghan translators have faced since the Taliban’s takeover of the country in August 2021. Since then, American public awareness has been shifted further and further from Afghanistan, first to Ukraine, and now to conflict in Gaza. It has become quite a difficult to find any stories in mainstream media coming out of Afghanistan, only 2 years after the last troops departed the battleground of America’s longest war. Despite the lack of attention by our media, the desperation of our Afghan allies to escape Taliban retribution results in cries for help that arrive to the phones, messaging apps, and inboxes of Americans every single day.
Afghanistan War veterans relied on these men and women to interpret and fight alongside of us, and many of those veterans and civilian volunteers have offered thousands of hours to write recommendation letters, assist with paperwork for the Department of State’s Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and maintain contact with and even financially support our Afghan allies. Some Afghans are in such dire need for asylum that they must be moved from safehouse to safehouse on a daily basis. I have met some of these exceptional Americans who coordinate these efforts behind the scenes with trusted Afghan handlers they pay to help these men and women escape detection. The Taliban have orders to “kill on site” any members they find of the Afghan Special Forces, and this quite often means interpreters as well. Many have fled Afghanistan to neighboring Pakistan to escape the Taliban, although Pakistan has cracked down in recent months, deporting “more than 482,000 Afghans (who) have returned home in the past more than two months, 90% going voluntarily” (AP, DEC 2023) Taking the above into consideration, I feel it is appropriate to remind our readers that their situation gets more desperate by the day.
For this month’s edition, I’ve asked the 9 Afghan interpreters I have been helping through the SIV process, who remain in Afghanistan, to provide an update for our readers on their current situation.
Interpreter #1 “I have received 6 emails, and a phone call since submitted my DS-260 and civil docs. Our family are still waiting for information.”
Interpreter #2 “I have heard nothing in the last 1.5 years. I reach out, they say they have 1000s of emails pending and to wait my turn.”
Interpreter #3 “My family was approved to evacuate to a 3rd Country enroute to USA on 27MAR23. We have been waiting 8 months and no response from Nation Visa Center or CARE Team (Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts). I don’t know what is going on with my case. We have no money and no information since March.”
Interpreter #4 “I was denied for SIV, so I appealed in March 2023. I am still waiting for reason why I was denied and for appeal to be decided. Please help me, Sir, if you have information for me…”
Interpreter #5 “Sir I have been pre-approved for SIV, I am awaiting information from CARE Team for several month now.
Interpreter #6 “Sir, I receive this from Department of State ‘Your case is now documentarily complete, and ready for an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Because the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended all operations, you cannot continue your visa process in Afghanistan at this time.’ I am awaiting information on evacuation from CARE Team.”
Interpreter #7 “I fought with U.S. Marines in Helmand as Special Forces, but I have not heard any news of my case. I am still on Step one…”
Interpreter #8 “My family is awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan. Most recent update was in November.”
Interpreter #9 “I have been approved and waiting for interview for myself and wife and three daughters since April 2022. We have been surviving by help of others as it is Taliban area I live in. I cannot work in the city as it is too risky to be found by Taliban.”
Interpreter #10 SIV granted. Relocated to Michigan, USA, FEB 2023. Lives with brother.
Interpreter #11 SIV granted. Relocated to Arizona, USA, NOV2022. Awaiting evacuation of wife and children.
Many have asked me how to help these families, and the best way we can help them at this time is to send money to these families directly, as these men are unable to work and support their families due to the danger of be- ing discovered by the Taliban as they wait for evacuation. I have personally sent money to these families via Western Union and our Afghan contact in Kabul (so the family isn’t endangered by receiving funds from a westerner).
If you would like to learn more about donating subsistence money to one of these families, please contact me at jacob@noblecleaners.vegas. I will explain the process fully. 100% of all donations will be given directly to the families, with updates and receipts upon delivery.
Semper Fi.