Help Save My Afghan Family from Deportation and Danger

Story

You awaken to police officers pounding on your door, demanding you leave your home, threatening your family’s safety, and forcing you into a dangerous, uncertain future. My family–probably little different than yours– faces this terrifying reality. They are three households, including a bedbound grandmother and three young children, who fled Afghanistan when the Taliban took over in 2021. We are Hazara, a long-persecuted religious and ethnic group with recognizably central Asian features, which has made us targets of both the Taliban and ISIS (https://www.genocidewatchblog.com/post/hazara-genocide-the-indian-subcontinent-s-silence). I was able to raise funds to get my family members to safety in Pakistan, and we’ve been working tirelessly to bring them here to the U.S. through the Welcome Corps asylum program —an opportunity that was abruptly ended by President Trump in his first days in office (https://welcome.us/explainers/us-refugee-admissions-program-suspended-until-further-notice-welcome-corps-terminated). But now, the situation is dire. The money we raised four years ago has run out. And Pakistan is in the midst of an extreme crackdown on “illegals,” and declared a deadline of March 31st for all Afghan refugees to leave the country. Their homes are now being raided. Families are being actively deported—over 80,000 Afghans already have been sent back into danger under Taliban rule in Afghanistan (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74z19pl7wgo). Just last week, police raided my family’s home. The only reason they weren’t deported on the spot is because the grandmother is too ill to move. But we know the police will come back. They may be deported to Afghanistan, where they will be under immediate threat of violence as the country hovers on the brink of civil war between different militia factions of the Taliban—or they may be able to find sanctuary elsewhere. To survive, they need resources. The 10 threatened family members are as follows (information/details have been withheld to protect their identities): Aliya—62 year old grandmother, recently underwent liver surgery, bedbound, mother of Ali Reza, Abdul Majid, and Sediqa Ali Reza —businessman working in imports Sediqa– daughter of Aliya Abdul Majid—carpet manufacturer, married to Nargis, father to Melika and Mohammad Nargis-- married to Abdul Majid, mother to Melika and Mohammad Melika—six year old daughter of Abdul Majid and Nargis, loves learning and wants one day to go to school Mohammad—three year old son of Abdul Majid and Nargis Mohammad Reza—holds law degree, husband to Zahra, father to daughter Kawsar Zahra-- wife of Mohammad Reza, mother of Kawsar Kawsar—three year old daughter of Mohammad and Zahra, loves drawing, dreams one day of becoming a doctor We’re raising funds to help these families to cover transportation costs, find a safe place to live , and cover basic needs like food and medicine. Every dollar counts. Our goal is $43,000. We anticipate that money will go to supporting three families (10 people): Relocation costs: $2,000/every 3 months; ($16,000 for two years) Healthcare and emergencies: $5,000 Living costs: $850/month; 24 months of support ($20,400) Your donation will go directly to giving them a chance to survive.