The Brother

Ali is a 25-year-old Afghan man.  His brother Abdul was resettled by the U.S. Government’s program “Allies Welcome” after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.  Because Ali is in an ethnic and religious minority in Afghanistan, his life is at risk at the hands of the Taliban.  Unfortunately for Ali, millions of other Afghans have fled Afghanistan and wish to restart their lives in a safe country. 

Ali had few options.  Ali contacted his brother Abdul every day (or vice versa) via the internet.  Abdul, while having little money himself, sent money home to Ali to help him survive.  One day, Ali learned of a visa program that would allow him to get to a South American country.  Ali leaped at the chance and in a few months, he was in South America.  While he had the chance to apply for a work permit in that country, Ali thought of his brother Abdul.  He realized if he stayed in South America he would be entirely alone and unsafe.  He me other Afghans that had fled to South America and they were heading north to the U.S. border where they hoped to be interviewed by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and granted admission to the U.S.  Ali decided to head north. 

Ali was granted temporary admission to the U.S. and given one year to make his case for a longer-term immigration status.  He was also made eligible for work in the U.S.  Given the Taliban persecution that he endured in Afghanistan, he has a good case for asylum in the U.S. 

Today Ali is a hard-working man holding down a 40+ hour per week at entry level job while also attending English classes five days per week.  He has nearly saved enough money for the legal retainer to begin his application for asylum in the U.S.  He now smiles readily and is reunited with his brother, who is working on his own permanent residency (“green card”). 

At every step of the way, Ali has had an RSN community advocate coaching him on success. With each passing day Ali is becoming a success, and in just a few months has become a contributing member of our community.