Aalem* fought against the Taliban alongside U.S. troops. The Afghan soldier knew it was the right thing to do, but it left him, his wife, and their seven children vulnerable to retaliation.
Now — thanks to Catholic Charities supporters like you — Aalem and his family have a safe home in Cincinnati.
The family was evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Welcome in 2021. They arrived in Cincinnati in October of that year. For more than 18 months, Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Services (RRS) and Immigration Legal Services (ILS) teams worked with Aalem and his family as they started their new lives.
The RRS team immediately went to work finding them a place to live, enrolling the children in school, helping Aalem find a job, and ensuring they could access public assistance benefits. The team also made sure that one of the children was getting the medical care he needs for a rare blood disorder.
Meanwhile, the ILS team petitioned for Special Immigrant Visas based on the work Aalem had done in his home country on behalf of the United States. Once the petition was approved, ILS helped the family navigate the green card process. The team helped them file the paperwork and get the required vaccines and medical exams. They also accompanied them to their interviews.
When the green cards finally arrived in late April, Aalem and his wife brought a huge meal of Afghan food to the Catholic Charities office to thank the staff and celebrate with them.
“They just wanted to give back, even though they have so little,” says Elizabeth Clapp, ILS Director. “They were so, so, so, so thrilled! You could feel the energy in Aalem and his wife. They were just so relieved and so happy.”
With the legal issues resolved, the family can focus on settling in and building a thriving family here in Cincinnati. Aalem and his wife still worry for their loved ones thousands of miles away, but their children are making a fresh start here. The youngest son, a toddler, already responds to his parents in English when they speak to him in their native Pashto.
“To have this family where they are now is just really rewarding for our staff. It’s been a lot of hard work,” says Annie Scheid, RRS Director. “And they’re just the nicest family. They’re hard workers and good parents and just very nice people.”
Thank you for making success stories like this one possible through your generous, compassionate support!
*Name changed for privacy