|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
San Ramon’s congressman, Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), will have as his guest at President Barack Obama’s “State of the Union” address Tuesday (Jan. 20) an Afghan interpreter who served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The guest, Mohammad Usafi, waited nearly four years for a special immigrant visa, Swalwell said, and has now moved to the Bay Area.
Usafi’s father was killed and a brother was kidnapped by the Taliban because of Usafi’s role as an interpreter for U.S. forces. After petitioning by friends, advocates and members of Congress, including Swalwell, Usafi’s family was granted humanitarian parole by immigration authorities to join him in the U.S. last month.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Mohammad to Washington and bring greater attention to his story and the stories of thousands of Afghan interpreters still waiting for the visas they were promised,” said Swalwell, who represents a large Afghan community and met with military interpreters when he visited Afghanistan.
“It’s a great relief that today Mohammad and his family live in the Bay Area, but more must be done and can be done in a bipartisan fashion to help interpreters like Mohammad,” Swalwell added.
The State of the Union address falls on the one-year anniversary of the date Usafi arrived in the U.S. Since moving to the Bay Area, Usafi has found a steady job and has supported his family since their arrival.
Swalwell’s staff is currently helping the family move to Fremont, which is part of Swalwell’s congressional district which has a large Afghan population.
On Wednesday, the day after the State of the Union, Usafi will participate in a briefing on improvements needed to this visa program, such as allowing families of Afghan interpreters who come under threat to come to the U.S. and adding more visa slots.
Usafi served alongside American troops in Afghanistan as an interpreter beginning in 2008. His father was killed by the Taliban because of Usafi’s service.
Still, Usafi continued to serve for three more years until 2012. But, in 2013 his 3-year-old brother was captured by the Taliban. The family was forced to pay their life-savings of $35,000 to the Taliban as ransom. The Taliban still threatened to kill another family member.
Three and a half years after he started his application process for a special immigration visa, Usafi was granted his visa and came to the U.S.
Swalwell was one of several members of Congress who was contacted by veterans who served with Usafi to help bring his family to the Bay Area. Then, almost one year after Usafi arrived, the U.S. State Department enabled his mother and his seven siblings to join him.
Congressman Swalwell:
How do you justify why it took Usafi four years to get to the US “legally”, and yet your political party and President allows literally tens of thousands of illegals to walk across our Southern Border with total impunity? Usafi is a hero for his extremely important role as an interpreter, saving American servicemen’s lives everyday! Where is the fairness, decency, and support for those persons willing to put their lives on the line to escape the Taliban? How many other Democrats will support your effort…Will your President sign a bill granting immediate visa’s for these interpreters? How about exercising his Executive Powers for something as significant as this? Remember Congressman…YOU TELL THE TRUTH BY THE RESULTS!
I will forward this article to the men and women who fought with my son who was killed in Afghanistan. The U.S. military returns to a lot less than this. Perhaps that is why there is such a high suicide rate among our returning Vets.
Dear Fallen Hero Mom:
You are absolutely correct! But then who really understands how much our men and women are affected by fighting these wars! Those who live through the conflict come home to a “normalcy” that is now unreal. They cannot turn off the scenes of death and carnage that haunt them day and night. Many cannot even discuss it with loved ones. Why can’t they? Because they cannot convey the horror of war to those loved ones they swore to serve and protect. Many have had to make a conscious decision to kill another human being. Those who survived are tormented by what they had to do, by what they saw and experienced. You cannot hope to understand unless you were actually there. If politics were put aside and the VA “required” returning Vets to debrief together, perhaps our troops could heal quicker? I am so sorry for your loss. “Please” continue to speak out for your fallen hero and for all vets who suffer. God bless you. Keep the good memories!