The family of an Afghan interpreter killed by the Taliban for his work with the U.S. military arrived in Houston this weekend, the culmination of a 10-year wait for resettlement.
Military veterans and refugee advocates greeted the family of the slain interpreter at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Saturday night with yellow roses and American flags.
But the Afghan family鈥檚 long-awaited arrival is a bittersweet one, since the husband and father 鈥� who goes by the pseudonym 鈥淢ohammed鈥� 鈥� was murdered by the Taliban in January 2021, shortly after he was notified that his family鈥檚 visa to the U.S. received initial approval.
The family鈥檚 story has gained the attention of , as well as the attention of Congress, as it highlights the life-threatening consequences Afghan and Iraqi interpreters face due to their work with the U.S. military.
Interpreters like Mohammed have access to a Special Immigrant Visa, created to protect translators who helped U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, who played an essential role in language, cultural and geographic understanding of the region.
But many interpreters, and other qualifying workers have faced years-long delays and other issues, while their lives are on the line.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long wait. Trust me. You check your email 10 times in a day,鈥� said Asadullah Jan, a former Afghan interpreter living in Houston, whose visa process took six years.
Jan said he moved around Afghanistan frequently to keep himself and his friends and family safe.
He was among the group welcoming the Mohammed family Saturday 鈥� an arrival that Jan said came too late.
鈥淥n the one hand, I am glad most of the family made it to the United States of America. Here they鈥檒l be having the best life,鈥� he said. But he also acknowledged the tragedy in not having Mohammed join them, 鈥渂ecause of the delay of someone sitting in Washington in a decorated office, delaying the case time and again and again and again.鈥�
For five months, military veterans in Houston have been working with lawmakers, attorneys and immigration officials to quickly get immigration approvals for the late translator's wife and six children.
Mohammed and his family were eligible for the Special Immigrant Visas after he served about 12 years in combat as an interpreter, according to Cress Clippard, a volunteer with the veteran organization Combined Arms. Clippard has welcomed dozens of Afghans and Iraqis to Houston.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a no-brainer for most of us veterans that we鈥檝e got to help them out when they come here,鈥� Clippard said.
During Mohammed鈥檚 10-year wait for his family鈥檚 visa鈥檚, his application was erroneously denied. The International Refugee Assistance Project intervened and eventually, Mohammed's visa received initial approval in December 2020.
But while Mohammed and his family were waiting for next steps, the Taliban attacked, first killing three of Mohammed's extended family members at a wedding, according to Clippard, who had spoken directly with the family and their lawyers.
Then, in January 2021, the Taliban shot and killed Mohammed, according to the first-hand account from Mohammed's son, who was there when his father was gunned down.
Mohammed's death invalidated the family's visa pathway, which prompted the International Refugee Assistance Project to seek 鈥渉umanitarian parole鈥� for the family, an emergency measure which allows them to quickly come to the United States due to the immediate threat on their lives.
The family's story brings to light the plight of some 18,000 families 鈥� the estimated number of Afghans with pending Special Immigrant Visas for their families as of June 2020. For each year they wait, due to the time-consuming and confusing visa application process, they鈥檙e more at risk of an attack by the Taliban.
Combined Arms has set up a that will be used to make initial rent payments for the family, and help with some medical and food expenses. Because the family now isn't coming in with Special Immigrant Visas, they aren't eligible for government support and still face an uncertain legal future.
And now, the approaching September 2021 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan has renewed calls to quickly grant visas to the Afghans who served alongside U.S. armed forces.
鈥淭he United States government made a promise: If you help our mission there, if you help us rebuild these countries, we understand that鈥檚 a gigantic risk not only to you but also to your family,鈥� Clippard said. 鈥淏ecause we understand that we are willing to offer a chance to come to America and be safe.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e got until Sept. 11 until we pull out,鈥� Clippard said. 鈥淎nd then who is going to protect them?鈥�