The US produces a tool for Afghans in the country to reunite with family members
Updated: 20:10 CST January 13, 2023
your country Narrator: What it’s like to start over and find new dreams for the future. ♪ Soledad: I’m Soledad O’Brien. Welcome to “Business”. The interim conditions are in the rearview mirror, but the debate over the nation’s future continues. For refugees in the U.S., that debate involves whether they will find a path to permanent residence here. Just over a year ago, 76,000 Afghan nationals fled their homeland and came to the U.S. on humanitarian relief, which means temporary visa-free entry, refugee families living legally. Now that they are putting down roots in communities across the country, they still live in fear. They see the Taliban’s retribution against those left behind. The fight for freedoms for women and girls. Reporter Jessica Gomez caught up with an Afghan family with four daughters, who found their way to a new home and a new life in Wisconsin. >> I work three days a week and I also have classes. So it’s busy, very busy. JESSICA: 19-year-old ASMA IQBALZADA, at the start of another long day, she and her older sister are on their way to college prep classes. Her younger sisters went to middle and high school in South Milwaukee. >> it is not easy to leave your life, your home, your people, your country. Jessica: Asma’s family is Hazara, an ethnic minority group often persecuted by ISIS and the Taliban. They were among the thousands of Afghans who rushed to Kabul airport in August 2021 as the US left and the Taliban took over. Like many others, they had no official paperwork and little hope. >> It’s, like, impossible. Our odds were 0,000, it’s just impossible . JESSICA: But when Asma’s youngest sister, Marva, got separated from her family, an American soldier and his translator noticed it. >> Then he grabbed Marva and he just put Marva on his shoulder. >> He said, are you sure, you Sure. And your family is coming. Jessica: The next thing they knew, they were all on a plane, like this, leaving behind the only life they’d ever known. When you got on that plane and you knew you were taking off and you knew you were leaving Afghanistan probably for a long time, what did it cross your mind? >> actually my mind was just frozen, and i just couldn’t think of anything. [LAUGHTER] Jessica: Today, the strongest English speaker, Asma is often the family translator. >> turn right, then turn right. Jessica: She needed to learn how to drive. >> I’m like the UBER driver, like most of the time I’m on the road. OK, this is your order. Jessica: And to help pay the bills, got her first job, in a cafeteria at a manufacturing company in Milwaukee. >> when i got home from work i was like, mom. This salad had seven or eight packets. How can I memorize all this? Jessica: With her infectious laugh — [LAUGHTER] Jessica: And work ethic, her bosses say she’s a welcome addition at a time when good employees are hard to find. >> the sky’s the limit, she’s going to go places. She’s got the personality, she’s got the brain power and she’s got such an attitude, such a great attitude. Jessica: But for Esma and her family, the transition to their new life in the US is bittersweet. Her father, once a business owner, is now a car mechanic. And her mother, torn as she recalls her work as a seamstress at home. But grateful, she says, for her job now at a national store To the brides, as she writes a new story for her four daughters. >> Have the characters embraced their differences? Jessica: A story that begins with their education. Esma, wants to study business and her sister, psychology. An opportunity stolen from their friends at home. Jessica: What are some of your friends doing that still are in afghanistan? >> before the taliban took over my friends all go to school, went to university and now they just stay at home. >> i think about them every day it’s just anxiety, because there is no school, no hope for the future, just staying at home and waiting for nothing. jessica: what do the girls in afghanistan need from the rest of the world? >> they need to start paying attention. jessica: and to the soldier and the translator who did notice these four afghan girls — >> if i can find the soldier, the translator too, just saying thank you huge and they can understand how they’ve changed lives. My whole family, we’re just so grateful. Jessica: In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, “For real,” I’m Jessica Gomez. Soledad: “A Naini was able to confirm that the soldier who helped Asma and her family leave Afghanistan was assigned to the Army’s 82nd Aviation Division. When and if we can find you
The US produces a tool for Afghans in the country to reunite with family members
Updated: 20:10 CST January 13, 2023
The US State Department released a tool for Afghans in the US on parole to begin the process of reunification with family members on Thursday, a State Department spokesman told CNN. During the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghans fled the country on evacuation flights, out of fear of the Taliban taking over. Due to the chaotic rush to leave the country, which proved fatal for many Afghans, many families were separated from their loved ones. With this new form, tens of thousands of Afghans who arrived in the U.S. around that time are eligible to apply for reunification with their next of kin. This specifically includes the Afghan’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21, according to the State Department. “In November, the State Department announced on launching a new resource for people in the U.S. seeking family reunification. friends, depending on their immigration status or method of entry into the United States. Today, we are launching Form DS-4317 for applicants to apply for family reunification, including those who have subsequently been granted Temporary Protected Status “, said the spokesperson of the department. The new form was published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Until now, these Afghans in the US have done so. They have no legal way to bring their family members to Israel to join them. “The purpose of the reunification resources, including the parole form, is to help those families who are still separated,” the spokesman said. The announcement was welcomed by by an organization that supports Afghans settling in the US “This affects any Afghan brought here by the US on parole who still has family in Afghanistan who is eligible for reunification. Afghans who fit this description should fill out the form now and Afghans in other categories should visit the family reunification landing page and follow the instructions there,” said Sean Vandiver, a Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac. “It took longer to do this. than anyone would want, but #AfghanEvac is proud to have worked tirelessly with the State Department to bridge the gap in the interim through our grassroots efforts,” VanDiver added. It’s unclear how long it will take for family reunification to occur after Afghans fill out these forms, but VanDiver said To CNN, this is proof that interagency efforts can work. One of the main concerns moving forward is the flights out of Afghanistan that allow the transfer to begin. While those flights resumed this month — after being halted during last year’s World Cup in Qatar — there are concerns among those involved in the effort that the flights could be halted. by the Taliban in the future.This story has been updated with additional details.CNN’s Jake Tapper contributed to this report.
The US State Department released a tool for Afghans in the US on parole to begin the process of reunification with their family members on Thursday, a State Department spokesman told CNN.
During the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghans fled the country on evacuation flights, fearing a Taliban takeover. Due to the chaotic panic to leave the country, which proved fatal for many Afghans, many families were separated from their loved ones.
With this new form, tens of thousands of Afghans who arrived in the U.S. around that time are eligible to apply for reunification with their next of kin. This specifically includes the Afghan’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21, according to the State Department.
“In November, the State Department announced the launch of a new resource for people in the U.S. seeking family reunification, based on their immigration status or method of entry into the U.S. Today, we are launching Form DS-4317 for travelers to apply for family reunification , including those who subsequently received temporary protected status,” said a department spokesman.
The new form was published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Until now, these Afghans in the US had no legal way to bring their family members to Israel to join them.
“The purpose of the reunification resources, including the parole form, is to help those families who are still separated,” the spokesman said.
The announcement was welcomed by an organization that supports the settlement of Afghans in the US
“This affects any Afghan brought here with parole status who still has family in Afghanistan eligible for reunification. Afghans who fit this description should fill out the form now and Afghans in other categories should visit the Family Reunification landing page and follow the instructions there,” Shawn said VanDiver, Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac.
“It took longer to do than anyone would have liked, but #AfghanEvac is proud to have worked tirelessly with the State Department to bridge the gap in the interim through our grassroots efforts,” VanDiver added.
It’s unclear how long it will take for family reunification to happen after the Afghans fill out those forms, but VanDiver told CNN it’s proof that interagency efforts can work.
One of the main concerns for the continuation is the departure flights from Afghanistan that allow the transition to begin. While those flights resumed this month — after being halted during last year’s World Cup in Qatar — there are concerns among those involved in the effort that the flights could be stopped by the Taliban in the future.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Jake Tapper contributed to this report.
