Help Afghan family who escaped restart in CT

Short version: a former student of mine is now the sole provider for 7 of her family members from Afghanistan who were able to flee: her parents, 3 siblings, a brother-in-law and 2-year-old nephew. They are here under ‘humanitarian parole.’ While it provides the family temporary lawful presence in the US, they *do not* automatically receive the resources, public assistance and support for which people officially designated as refugees are eligible. 

Donations will support immediate needs such as rent, utilities, medical costs and legal fees.  

Full version: My name is Amelia Greiner Safi. I am a professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, though I am organizing this campaign as a private citizen. GoFundMe requires these details for efforts relating to supporting people from Afghanistan, which is where one of my former students is from. This student is in her 20s and an asylee. We became close during her time at Cornell. When Afghanistan fell, I was in regular contact with her to help where possible with her family’s escape. They were targets in Afghanistan for their connections to the US through education and work and because their daughters were educated and had professional lives. In the fall of 2021, she was able to get them out of Afghanistan - with the help of a reporter (Elizabeth Rubin) who raised funds for their flights, a number of representatives in Congress and the State Department. 

For ongoing safety concerns, I can’t name her or put up her picture. I’d be happy to talk with anyone if you have questions. She and her family’s situation is very much real.

Her family members are working on establishing their lives here after a harrowing experience. Their home was bombed. Their escape meant hiding in a different place for many nights and their exit nearly failed multiple times. They have spent months in refugee camps in Qatar and the US. Her parents and brother reunited with her in Connecticut in January. The next set arrived just this April. 

She is now supporting seven family members: her two parents, her teenage brother, two sisters, a brother-in-law and a 2-year-old nephew. She has a good job as a research coordinator but is just out of school. It’s a lot on a single salary. There are no other assets. Basil (my husband) and I think our network can help.

Their being here is a gift, and it’s the first step of many towards stability. The road ahead is a long one. Her sisters and brother-in-law are fortunately well-educated and fluent English speakers. They will be looking for work, but that takes time and the family’s needs are immediate. 

They are here under ‘humanitarian parole.’ It’s a last resort immigration tool that gets people out of a location and enables temporary lawful presence in the US. However, they do not receive the resources or support given to people officially designated as refugees. This status complicates and slows acquiring work permits, making the need for outside support so urgent. 

Below is a description of how funds from this campaign will be used. 

Her parents and brother have medical issues that haven’t been able to be attended to in years - this care is followed by bills 

Her brother now has access to speech therapy - which he did not have in Afghanistan. It’s a life altering resource - to be able to clearly communicate - but there are costs with that, even though there is some support directly from the local high school

Each family member needs to apply for asylum to enable permanent residency. This is a lengthy and expensive process, usually $6K-$10K per adult, so up to $50,000. The cost for minors is less clear. 

My student’s rental expenses have substantially increased by needing to move to a larger apartment to accommodate her parents, brother  and sister. They are still looking for a place for her other sister, brother-in-law and nephew. Combined rent and utilities for two safe, modest apartments is $4,300/ month. Rents have skyrocketed - this is not lavish living. For the coming year alone, that’s $52,000. 

They need funds to cover basic necessities. They left essentially everything in Afghanistan. To build a life here they will need computers, cell phones, work clothes, furniture, rugs, beds, mattresses and kitchen supplies. 

Right now, they don’t have a car and managing without one is increasingly complicated. Acquiring a used, safe, reliable minivan and auto insurance is also on the horizon. The used car market has also exploded so prices are higher than usual. 

They have received some material donations, go to thrift stores and stretch the single salary as much as possible, but it cannot cover what I’ve listed. While they have had support from US-based agencies, those entities are stretched, and the associated help only goes so far. It covers a sliver of what’s needed to re-establish.

What she has been able to do for her family to help them flee - the relentless advocacy, the ongoing coordination, the ability to navigate complicated, bureaucratic process - all while relocating for a job, supporting a sister with health issues who is already in the US and starting that new job is its own feat. 

There’s a lot we can help with in this next phase to ease the load. A donation large or small will directly and immediately support a pretty incredible student and her family as they start over here personally, professionally and psychologically.

If I were in their shoes, I know I’d want someone to help me.