The Unforgotten

We are working to raise $15,000 to sustain family members of two of my Afghan interpreters as we seek approval for their immigration to the United States. Our fundraising efforts are graciously assisted by The Unforgotten, a charity organization founded by my former co-worker. We need your help in supporting these families as we strive to get them to safety and a new life in the United States. Unfortunately, this process is extremely slow and cumbersome. I have provided a brief introduction of myself and the circumstances of my interpreters below.

My name is Dane and I served two tours of duty in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2014. During that time, became close with two interpreters who served me who displayed exceptional degrees of skill and courage. These two individuals made my job possible and doubtless, their work saved countless American lives. Their dedication to their jobs and most important, our fellow soldiers is a model inspiring me to be a better person. Unfortunately, their families have been left behind by the US withdrawal. Please read more about them below. I have changed their names to protect their families’ identities.

Rocky and John are trying to get their fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters to the US. They are under direct threat and have been hiding from the Taliban since the United States retreated from Afghanistan. Rocky’s father has been forced to close his shop in Kabul and separate himself from his family. He and his family are being actively hunted by neighbors who know their son was an interpreter for US forces.

John’s mother and sisters, along with their husbands and children, presented themselves at the gates of the Kabul airport five separate times. While they were promised evacuation, and braved beatings to access the airport gates, and presented documents required by the US State Department, they were not allowed to enter. As the last US plane departed Kabul they were left behind, and John’s family went into hiding.

Fortunately, Rocky and John received their Special Immigrant Visas over the past several years and have immigrated to the United States. Unfortunately, their parents and siblings do not qualify for immigration under the SIV program and despite being under immediate threat, cannot apply for asylum because no US Embassy exists in Afghanistan. We have submitted Humanitarian Parole applications on their behalf and are waiting for the US Customs and Immigration Service to adjudicate them. Until that time, they must remain in Afghanistan while the economy and society collapses.

If granted Humanitarian Parole, these families will be authorized to enter the United States but will not receive any resettlement benefits. Once in the US, they can apply for asylum, which grants resettlement benefits but can take over a year to be authorized. In the meantime, it is up to us to provide the funds to sustain them while they wait, finance their travel from Afghanistan to the US, as well as supporting them when they arrive until they receive authorization to work. They will need to learn English, find housing, buy clothes, acquire transportation and a host of other unforeseen necessities. We cannot do this on our own.

Rocky and John provided invaluable service to me and our country. They have taught medical courses, fought alongside our service members, provided aid and comfort to wounded soldiers and so much more. They have also forged a new life here in the US with both attending college and being model citizens. Their service to our country has put their families under direct threat. They need our help, please contribute what you can so that we can remove these fifteen people from the threats they face in Afghanistan to the US to rejoin their sons.

As The Unforgotten is run by volunteers, all of your donations will go directly to the families, and if you wish, you will receive periodic updates on how those funds were used along with project updates.