Embedded Files
This newsletter is from Joe Mitchell of the Idaho Falls Bridge Builders and is an update on refugees here. This is a Q&A edition. If you have more Q’s please reach out.
Q: Have any more of the Afghan pilots been reunited with their wives?
A: Hallelujah yes! “A” arrived in January. M, with 5 year old son S, arrived in Idaho Falls Saturday. Kim and I were part of a welcome dinner and it was a beautiful moment to watch this little boy, who hasn’t seen his father in person in 3.5 years, crawl into his lap and chatter away about things like the cartoons he watched on the airplane. We don’t speak Hazaragi, but some of what the little boy said was translated for us. One question that had the whole dinner party laughing was, “why don’t I have any brothers or sisters”?
Q: Which families still need to be reunified?
A: Of the 21 people we are connected with, two families have not been reunited.
Q: Is there anything we can do to help with the remaining reunifications?
A: Please continue contacting the offices of your elected officials at the local, state, and national level. I suggest saying something like this:
It’s been more than 3.5 years since the Afghan Air Force flew 59 aircraft out of Kabul, to prevent the aircraft from falling into the hands of the Taliban. The US helped the pilots relocate to the United States. Six of those pilots now live in Idaho Falls. All six are married. All have asylum. All have full-time jobs, speak good English, and are enrolled as students at CEI and ISU.
But only four of them have been reunited with their families. One friend has a daughter who is almost three, who he has never seen in person. Our other friend had been married only two weeks when he was forced to leave. He speaks with his wife online almost every day, often for 4-5 hours.
The wives and children have passports, good health, present no security risks, and have been ready to travel for years. They all have USCIS case files under form I-730, Refugee Asylee Relative Petition. The only thing they are waiting for is a US visa, which will allow them to buy tickets on a commercial flight to Idaho. After arrival, they will live with their husbands, and provide no burden to any local services.
All of the pilots and their families have filled out every form, followed every rule and law, and waited patiently every time they have been told to wait patiently. But for families to be separated for more than three years is indefensible, and their cases should be expedited with urgency. As immigration reform is debated at every level of government, please don’t forget about reuniting these families!
Q: How were A and S allowed to come, after the Jan 20 Executive Order suspending refugee programs?
A: Their arrival was a surprise to all of us! Their visa interview was Jan 27, after the EO. So this is a multiple choice answer, you can pick the ones you like best.
The EO was intentionally vague, and didn’t prohibit derivative asylees from coming.
The EO was unintentionally vague, and didn’t prohibit derivative asylees from coming.
A courageous American in the US embassy in Islamabad said, “I don’t really care about the intent of the EO, approving these visas and reuniting this family is the right thing to do.”
Divine intervention. (I know lots of people who were praying for this family.)
Q: Has the federal suspension of funding impacted the newcomers or Bridge Builders?
A: Neither the newcomers nor Bridge Builders receive any government funding so it has had no local effect. Of course, It has had a huge impact on refugee resettlement at the state and national level.
Q: Has the escalating rhetoric about immigrants affected the newcomers?
A: Our friends continue to report that they are not harassed or made to feel unwelcome in Idaho Falls. I believe the humanity and civility of our local leadership - like Mayors Casper and Coletti - has a positive impact. The ongoing presence of groups like the nonprofit Idaho Falls African American Alliance also helps “promote understanding and respect among all races.” Good job my city!
Q: Why don’t you use real names and more photos in these newsletters?
A: I would love to use more photos - we have some great ones - but it is more important to protect the privacy of our friends. That’s also why I abbreviate names down to one letter, even though it makes for awkward reading.
Q: Where do you get information on refugees?
A: Try to get information from sources that have journalistic standards.
News
Start local. I like East Idaho News. Just don’t scroll down and read the noxious comments on the stories or you might lose all hope for our species.
The Idaho state level has an amazing group that has helped us immensely. Idaho Office for Refugees
For international news it’s hard to beat the BBC and Wall Street Journal. Home - BBC News WSJ
A journalistic podcast specific to Ukraine. Ukraine: The Latest | Podcast on Spotify
Commentary and Opinion
The official LDS statement. Church Reaffirms Immigration Principles: Love, Law and Family Unity
An example of an evangelical view. Moore to the Point 1-29-25 - Christianity Today
This great nonprofit organized by US veterans focuses on Afghan resettlement. https://afghanevac.org/policy
Feb 10 2025
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