Afghan Interpreters
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For information on the current effort to
evacuation Afghan interpreters and other Afghans who assisted U.S. and
other nations during the 20-year long conflict in Afghanistan visit the
link below:
Noncombatant Evacuation Operation
in Kabul, Afghanistan
(2021)
How to
Help Afghan Interpreters
Operation Allies Refuge (OAR)
Interpreters for the coalition forces have been
indispensible throughout the Afghan war. No much gets done without an
interpreter. They are the key to communicating in Afghanistan and
understanding the culture.
U.S. Department of State Fails Again
The
Department of State (DoS) is failing the Afghan interpreters that risked
their lives for years on end serving U.S. Soldiers and Marines. Congress
has authorized the DoS to grand 1,500 visas per year for Afghans who have
assisted the U.S. in Afghanistan. During that time the DoS has approved a
dismal 200 per year. Yet in 2012 the DoS has granted over 2 million visas;
100,000 to Russians and 20,000 to Saudis. 1.
Something is seriously wrong with the process.
State Department Comes on Board with
the Program?
In a case of 'too little too late' the State
Department now seems to take the plight of Afghan interpreters seriously.
In 2014 the State Department, as opposed to earlier years, actually used
all of the visa allocations provided to them by Congress. Now the State
Department is urging Congress (as of August 2014) to provide more visa
opportunities to Afghan interpreters. 2. Nice to have the State Department on
the team for a change! 3.
Program Extended One Year. The visa program was
about to expire at the end of September 2013 but Congress managed to
extend it by one year. Hopefully the State Department can get its act
together and approve some visas.
"Afghan Allies Extension Act". This act would
extend for one fiscal year the 2009 Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program
for Afghan civilians who worked with the U.S. government. The act will
broaden the categories of workers and provide for an additional year.
Other Coalition Countries and Their
Intepreters
The United States is not the only country with a
poor track record of taking care of those who 'took care of them'. France,
United Kingdom, Australia and others have also taken some heat on this
issue. In fact, in August 2015 the UK Ministry of Defence had to issue a
press release on its policy towards interpreters.
Websites with Information on the
Special Immigrant VISA Programs
Afghan SIV Program Update, U.S. Visas, U.S.
Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/types/afghans-work-for-us.html
SIV Info. The State Department provides detailed
information on the Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Iraqi and Afghan
Translators/Interpreters at the link below.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3738.html
Visa Types for Immigrants. State Department.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1326.html
No One Left Behind. The mission of No One Left
Behind is to assist Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters who have received
Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) with resettlement in the United States.
http://www.nooneleft.org
Firms Providing Interpreters and
Translators for Afghanistan
Mission Essential Personnel, LLC
www.missionessential.com
Publications on Interpreters in
Afghanistan
(listed in chronological order)
Bruno, Andorra. Iraqi and Afghan Special
Immigrant Visa Programs". Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report
R43725, January 20, 2015.
www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/SIVCRS20Jan15.pdf
Bruno, Andorra. Iraqi and Afghan Special
Immigrant Visa Programs, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report
R43725, September 12, 2014.
www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/SpecialImmigrantVisaProgramsCRS12Sep14.pdf
Videos about Interpreters in
Afghanistan
February 19, 2015. U.S. Army Veteran Matt Zeller
talks to CNN's Michael Holmes about the thousands of Iraqi and Afghan
linguists who helped U.S. troops and have since been forgotten.
www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/02/19/intv-amanpour-matt-zeller-iraq-afghanistan-translators-holmes.cnn
October 20, 2014. John Oliver in his TV program
"Last Week Tonight" blasts the U.S. State Department on its treatment of
Afghan interpreters.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QplQL5eAxlY
August 21, 2013.
"Afghan Interpreters Fear for their lives as U.S. Troops Prepare to
Withdraw". The Huffington Post.
News Reports about Interpreters
in Afghanistan
August 20, 2021.
"Our Moral and Legal Responsibility to Save Afghan Translators", by
Christopher Karwacki, Diplomatic Courier. Karwacki is a senior
strategist with the U.S. Department of Defense and a board member with
No One Left Behind.
August 18, 2021.
"Here's what you can do to help Afghan interpreters and refugees",
Task & Purpose. A list of resources you can use to help the more than
70,000 Afghan interpreters and refugees trying to escape the Taliban.
August 16, 2021.
"Don't Fail America's Allies: the Plight of Afghans Left Behind", by
France Hoang, War on the Rocks.
July 9, 2021.
"Book Review - Special Forces Interpreter", SOF News. The
story of an Afghan interpreter who spent eight years working with the US
Army Special Forces and the UK Special Air Service.
July 14, 2021.
"US to begin evacuating Afghans who aided American military", AP
News.
2020
January 10, 2020.
"As Violence Soars, Time Runs out for Afghan Interpreters", by Sarah
Blake Morgan, The Diplomat. 19,000 interpreters are still waiting
for the U.S. State Department to decide their fate.
2019
May 15, 2019.
"Senators Want Visas for Afghans Now Stranded After Helping U.S. Forces",
by Patricia Zengerle, U.S. News & World Report.
2017
May 1, 2017.
"Spending bill includes 2,500 new visas for Afghans", The Hill
Defense Blog. The bipartisan agreement in Congress will put the visa
program back on track. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul had stopped interviewing
applicants for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program due to a lack of
available visas.
2016
August 18, 2016.
"Dimming Hope for Afghan Translators", The New York Times.
Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Jeff Sessions of Alabama are standing
in the way of more visas for Afghan interpreters - playing politics in an
election year.
August 9, 2016.
"They Will Kill Us: Afghan Translators Plead for Delayed U.S. Visas",
The New York Times.
August 9, 2016.
"Fearing for their lives, Afghan translators for US plead for visas",
The Boston Globe.
June 23, 2016.
"A Broken Promise in Afghanistan", by Jeanne Shaheen, The New York
Times.
June 23, 2016.
"Afghan interpreters 'betrayed' by UK and US", BBC News.
May 25, 2016.
"Top US general: Afghan interpreters in danger if visa program axed",
Stars and Stripes.
May 20, 2016.
"McCain to 'shame' senators over Afghan, Iraqi visas", Stars and
Stripes. A large defense authorization bill left out the extending of
the SIV program for Afghan and Iraqi interpreters.
April 22, 2016.
"Former US interpreters worry Taliban will arrive before visa does",
Stars and Stripes. One interpreter has been waiting five years
for the State Department to issue his visa.
March 1, 2016.
"State Department Fixes Unfair Visa Change", The New York Times.
After yet another embarrassment the State Department reverses course once
again in the face of criticism.
February 16, 2016.
"Rule Change Dashes Hope for Afghan Military Allies Seeking Refuge in
U.S.", Free Beacon.
February 4, 2016.
"An Unpaid Debt to Afghan Interpreters", The New York Times.
2015
November 21, 2015.
"From Afghanistan to South Carolina: A refugee's story", The Post
and Courier. A former interpreter starts over again.
November 14, 2015.
"Some struggling Afghan, Iraqi interpreters get help from charity".
Military Times. No One Left Behind (www.nooneleft.org)
provides some basic assistance.
November 9, 2015.
"The Long, Slow Betrayal of America's Interpreters", War is
Boring.
November 5, 2015.
"Afghan interpreter torn between two worlds", Deutshe Welle.
An interpreter working for the German military had to flee because of
Taliban pressure. He now lives in Germany while his family resides in
Afghanistan.
September 17, 2015.
"Forget the Syrian refugees. America needs to bring its Afghan and Iraqi
interpreters here first", The Washington Post.
August 28, 2015.
"Betrayal of the brave", Daily Mail. An Afghan interpreter
who helped British forces was shot dead on his doorstep at his families
farm.
May 18, 2015.
"Danish veterans accuse government of failing their Afghan interpreters".
Reuters. The goverment of Denmark has broken its promise to grant
asylum to local Afghan interpreters who helped Danish soldiers during
their deployment to Afghanistan.
May 2, 2015.
"The Afghan interpreters cut adrift by French army". France 24.
April 22, 2015.
"Where the Grave Isn't Free: An Afghan Interpreter Struggles with US
Resettlement." Voice of America.
April 7, 2015.
"Afghan interpreter who worked with British army refused UK asylum".
The Guardian. He claims he has been targeted by the Taliban but
the Home Office doesn't believe he would be in danger.
March 26, 2015.
"Less than 100 brave interpreters from Afghan War resettled in UK despite
Taliban threats". Express.
March 8, 2015.
"NZ military medals awarded to Afghan interpreters". TV New
Zealand. The men and there families were resettled in NZ in
recognition to their service as interpreters for the New Zealand military
in Afghanistan. (news report and 30 second video).
February 20, 2015.
"It took eight years, but Afghan interpreter for 28th Division team makes
it to America". PennLive.com. A SGM overcomes the State
Department with persistence to get a visa for his interpreter.
February 19, 2015.
"Matt Zeller and Janis Shinwari Saved Each Other's Lives - and Now Help
Others". People.com.
January 13, 2015.
"Keeping a Promise to Afghans". An editorial by The New York
Times.
January 6, 2015.
"State Department Awards Immigration Visas to 1,000 Dead Interpreters".
Duffel Blog. A humorous poke at the State Department about a
deadly serious topic.
2014
December 26, 2014.
"Afghan Interpreter Finds Refuge at Marine's Home". Military.com.
A U.S. Marine provides a fresh start.
December 17, 2014.
"In the last days of Afghanistan, too many Shadows of Vietnam",
Defense in Depth Blog. Captain Newson states the case for expanded
legislation for the benefit of Afghan interpreters.
December 14, 2014.
"Afghan interpreters risked all for U.S., struggle in Omaha".
Omaha.com.
December 1, 2014.
"A Fight for Afghan Interpreters". The Boston Herald.
December 8, 2014.
"Visas set for 4,000 Afghan interpreters who helped U.S., but many left
behind." The Washington Times.
December 4, 2014.
"Former Afghan translator living in US finally reunited with family".
Stars and Stripes.
November 30, 2014.
"Afghan interpreters, targeted for helping the US military, finally make
it to America". Public Radio International.
November 26, 2014.
"Left
to the mercy of the Taliban". BBC News.
November 18, 2014.
"Afghan interpreters deserve visas". Columbia Daily Tribune.
October 23, 2014.
"Why is a Comedian the Only One Talking about the Plight of Afghan
Interpreters?" Council of Foreign Affairs.
October 20, 2014.
"Abandoned Allies: Afghan Interpreters Left Behind by US". Reason.com.
September 11, 2014.
"As a U.S. War Winds Down, Afghans Look for a Way Out". Public Radio
East.
August 23, 2014.
"Heroes Left to Die". War on the Rocks. A Special Forces
officer with 8 tours in Afghanistan cites his disgust with the State
Department's treatment of Afghan interpreters.
August 10, 2014.
"Afghan actor links cultures as US war translator". Stars and
Stripes. Interpreter worked in Hollywood then gave up career to work
as an interpreter for Marines for two years in Afghanistan.
August 8, 2014.
"Visas For Afghan and Iraqi Interpreters: The Case for Neo-Colonialism".
Forbes.com. An alternative approach to visas is presented.
August 7, 2014.
"Interpreters are caught in the crossfire in Afghanistan".
Deutsche Welle.
August 4, 2014.
"Obama expected to sign bill allowing more Afghans to immigrate".
Military Times. The bill will renew the State Department's Special
Immigrant Visa program and add 1,000 new visas for Afghans who assisted
U.S. forces.
August 1, 2014.
"Afghan interpreter visa program expanded in rare bipartisan vote".
The Washington Post.
July 22, 2014.
"Is the US Abandoning Afghan Interpreters to Certain Death?"
Reason.com. From 2009 to 2013, Congress said 7,500 visas could be
issued by the but the State Department approved only 2,000.
July 21, 2014.
"Senators propose visa increase for Afghan civilians". The Hill.
The bill would extend the visa program for another year allowing Afghan
interpreters who worked for military forces to gain entry into the United
States.
May 16, 2014.
"Afghan grad learns pluralism lesson as he earns degree". USA
Today. College expenses paid for by U.S. Army officer.
May 8, 2014.
"Lawmakers aim to widen Afghan visa effort". The Hill Blog.
April 28, 2014.
"For Canada's Afghan interpreters, the battle never ends". The
Star.
April 2014.
"The Interpreters We Left Behind". By Paul Solotaroff, Men's
Journal. The United States (State Department) has abandoned fixers
and translators to dangerous countrymen who view them as traitors.
April 23, 2014.
"Bringing the Bridges Home". Independent European Daily Express.
Foreign forces leaving vulnerable interpreters behind in Afghanistan.
March 24, 2014.
"Afghans Who Helped the U.S. Fear That Time Has Run Out". The New
York Times. The U.S. State Department has intentionally failed our
valued allies . . . again.
March 14, 2014.
"Swedish army translator flees Afghanistan". The Local
(Sweden). The former interpreter for Swedish forces in Mes-e-Sharif
requests asylum.
March 11, 2014.
"Afghan interpreters who worked alongside coalition troops are being
resettled in Australia". Radio Australia.
March 6, 2014.
"Ex-Afghan translators for German army fear attacks". Federal News
Radio.
February 19, 2014.
"Tongue tied in Afghanistan". Public Broadcasting System. PBS
exposes the failure of the state department in granting visas to Afghan
interpreters.
February 14, 2014.
"Afghan interpreters finally offered residency". 3 News.
Evidently the U.S. State Department isn't the only organization that has
difficulty understanding the importance of interpreters. New Zealand has
also been slow in process visas for interpreters.
February 9, 2014.
"Escape from Afghanistan: A father's journey". WUSA. A Afghan
interpreter discusses his new life in the United States.
February 8, 20914.
"U.S. visa backlog leaves Afghan interpreters in limbo". The
Seattle Times. This story just won't go away!
February 4, 2014.
"The US trusted them with a gun, but not a visa". Brisbane Times.
January 31, 2014.
"U.S. visa backlog leaves Afghan interpreters in limbo". Los
Angeles Times. The State Department, despite its claims, is still
screwing over the Afghan interpreters who have applied for visas.
January 24, 2014.
"Former Interpreter for The Times is Killed in Afghanistan". The
New York Times. Noor Ahmad Noori was killed near Lashkar Gah,
Helmand.
January 23, 2014.
"Left Behind: Afghan translator doges Taliban on long road to America",
NBC News.com. Evades Taliban and out-waits inept State
Department.
January 3, 2014.
"Support Afghans who helped U.S. soldiers". USA Today. An
U.S. Army officer who recently returned from an Afghan tour points out the
disservice to the Afghan interpreters who have aided the U.S.
January 2, 2014.
"Afghan translators deserve special visas - and fast". The
Washington Post. The post has published an editorial that criticizes
the State Department for dragging its heels on the Afghan interpreter visa
mess.
2013
November 14, 2013.
"Leave no interpreter behind". The Salt Lake Tribune. Since
the program's inception four years ago, only 1,648 interpreters have
received Afghan special immigrant visas out of the 8,750 allocated by
Congress. The State Department is dragging its feet for no apparent
reason.
November 12, 2013.
"An Afghan Interpreter's Flight to America", by George Packer,
The New Yorker.
November 8, 2013.
"Advocates: U.S. has 'moral responsibility' to fix interpreter visa
blunder". Army Times. In a bureaucratic "Catch 22" the State
Department is excluding Afghans who worked for Americans but through ISAF.
Their hair-brained reasoning is "Well, they worked for ISAF not the U.S."
My question is just how stupid can the State Department employees be?
November 7, 2013.
"Afghan Interpreter Finally Lands in US". Voice of America.
State Department finally discovers sanity after immense pressure from
Congress and the media.
October 21, 2013.
"Afghan SAS interpreters say requests ignored". Radio New Zealand
News. Six SAS interpreters wait for VISAs from Kiwis.
October 19, 2013.
"Interpreters wait for promise of life in USA". USA Today.
Many have been waiting for years for their visas and fear for their lives.
October 18, 2103.
"More Afghan interpreters granted NZ residence". TV NZ News.
New Zealand accepts nine Afghan interpreters and 26 family members.
October 2, 2013.
"Our forgotten allies in Iraq and Afghanistan". News & Observer.
October 1, 2013.
"Iraqi, and Afghan, translators deserve the visas they were promised".
The Washington Post. Congress needs to extend visa law.
September 28, 2013.
"Throw lifeline to Afghans who helped U.S.". The MetroWest.
September 27, 2013.
"Afghan interpreter who served U.S. deserves a chance". The
Reporter. An Afghan interpreter whose situation caused embarrassment
to the State Department now finds that he is on the the receiving end of
U.S. Department of State revenge.
September 26, 2013.
"The Forgotten Victims of September 30th". The Blog on The
Huffington Post. An opinion piece by U.S. Representative Earl
Blumenauer of OR.
September 25, 2013.
"Afghan Interpreter Has Visa Revoked". The Washington Free Beacon.
Friend to America is abandoned by the country he served.
September 25, 2013.
"Bill would extend visa program for interpreters". Army Times.
September 24, 2013.
"State Department's revocation of visa dashes hopes of Afghan
interpreter". The Washington Post. The State Department, for
no valid reason that it can cite, revokes the visa of an interpreter who
served the U.S. for seven years.
September 21, 2013.
"U.S., Afghan service members honor a 'A true patriot of Afghanistan'".
DVIDS. Story by CJSOTF-A. Afghan interpreter, Naeem Ramzani, conducted
more than 80 combat missions with U.S. Special Forces prior to his death.
September 12, 2013.
"For interpreters for U.S. forces, time may be running out to get visas".
Army Times. A backlogged visa program for Afghan interpreters
expires soon; State Department can't get their act together.
September 6, 2013.
"Afghan aide targeted by the Taliban fears US may leave him behind".
Yahoo News. His application for a U.S. visa is mired in
bureaucracy.
September 6, 2013.
"Campaign raises tuition to help former interpreter". CBC News.
A female interpreter who worked for Canadian military in Afghanistan will
now go to college in Canada.
August 14, 2013.
"Petition to protect rights of Afghan interpreters is delivered to Downing
Street". The Independent.
January 11, 2013.
"Army Failure to Screen Afghans Found to Risk U.S. Troops".
Bloomberg News. Story cites report that Mission Essential Personnel
LLC did not screen its employees properly.
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Endnotes
1. For the figures of how many visas DoS has
approved for Afghans see a story
here - "The United States' disservice to Afghan translators",
The Washington Post, September 15, 2013.
2. See Visas for Deserving Afghans: Our Moral
Responsibility, U.S. Department of State Official Blog - DIPNOTE,
posted by Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management
and Resources, July 24, 2014.
http://blogs.state.gov/stories/2014/07/24/visas-deserving-afghans-our-moral-responsibility
3. See Additional Visas Authorized for the
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program, by John Kerry, Secretary of
State, August 1, 2014.
www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/08/230146.htm
4. See "HMG Policy on Afghan Interpreters",
Defence in the Media Blog, Gov.uk, August 21, 2015. The post states
that claims of abandoning Afghan interpreters are "completely erroneous".
https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2015/08/21/hmg-policy-on-afghan-interpreters/
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