well they weren't given much notice but
resettlement organizations across new
jersey are in high gear preparing for
the influx of evacuees amid the massive
crowns of people attempting to get out
of afghanistan those who risked their
lives helping the u.s government over
the course of the two-decades-long war
in return they were promised protection
under the special immigrant visa program
les michigan brings us the story of one
afghan s.i.v holder who says achieving
that status is now harder and more
dangerous than ever his story is part of
our ongoing series chasing the dream
poverty and opportunity in america
i was scared for nearly a decade this
afghan native who wants his identity
protected worked security at a united
states army base in his homeland i was
in charge for 300 people by 2010 the
united states increased military
presence in afghanistan a few years
later when troops were being pulled back
the taliban started taking hold again
around that same time this man says he
feared more and more for his family's
safety he says he was receiving these
sorts of subtle threats oh this your
son oh do you see your daughter they go
to this call the taliban he alleges also
put explosive devices in his driveway on
two different occasions he says he had
to change houses five times in three
years so in 2014 he says he applied for
a special immigrant visa or siv which
permits someone to come to the united
states as a green card holder afghans
who worked closely with the u.s military
as interpreters in other capacities are
eligible it took him five years to
finally arrive in new jersey with his
wife and kids the process is
extremely long last week the white house
said some 2 thousand siv applicants and
their families had already arrived in
the united states but nearly 20 000 more
eligible afghan allies who risked their
lives to help u.s troops have applied
but still remain in limbo without visas
for themselves or their families this
afghan native says he is hearing stories
of the taliban going to their houses in
the middle of the night and some being
reported missing the next day this is
the most
dangerous part immigration attorney
eileen king english says in order to
receive a special immigrant visa you
need a letter of recommendation from the
u.s military and various other documents
before even becoming eligible for an
interview at the u.s embassy in kabul
which is now closed my understanding of
what's been happening on the ground
is that people who are documentarily
qualified are just receiving emails
directly from the department of state
to go to the airport
in order to try to evacuate however
the issue of course is it's it's not
safe for many people to actually get to
the airport and then once they get there
there's extremely long waits you know
i've heard reports of 30 plus hours
through
my colleagues they're with their
families they're with children there's
been tear gas deployed this man fears
for his former colleagues and remaining
family many are eligible to leave
finding it difficult to make happen
given the current crisis we've been
seeing huge reports of this people who
get to the airport
where
the u.s you know forces that are there
say if you don't if you're not a u.s
citizen or a green card holder we're not
going to board you on the flight
reverend seth kapperdill runs a program
called interfaith rise which helps
refugees and immigrants to find things
like permanent housing and employment
once they arrive in the u.s we have
somebody who
is here and his wife is still there
she's seven months pregnant the biden
administration says they want all u.s
troops out of afghanistan by august 31.
the taliban spokesperson announced there
would be no extension for evacuations
but these new jersey residents say it's
not enough time we're ready on this end
to receive people
but just the fact that everybody's you
know worried about a last day of august
deadline means that everyone is um
scrambling and maybe in ways that that
are slightly reckless as the situation
unfolds abroad reverend Kaper-Dale
praised the u.s administration rethinks
the deadline for nj spotlight news
i'm Leah Mishkin
major funding for chasing the dream is
provided by the jpb foundation with
additional funding from the peter g
peterson and joan ganz cooney fund
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