A U.S. Army soldier from the Seminole area is extremely concerned about the safety of an Afghan interpreter he has befriended. The two worked closely during the time the soldier was serving his country in Afghanistan. Because of the sensitive nature of this situation, neither the soldier nor the translator can be identified, but they would both appreciate any help they can get.

The safety of their translators is a common concern for many Americans soldiers that served in Afghanistan. They are well aware of the dangers their translators faced to assist them and the Afghan security forces they were training. They risked their lives for many years and stood against the Taliban, shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers. For interactions and communicating they had to expose their identities to unfriendly villagers, so many people are aware of who they are and what they did.

The soldiers they aided feel an obligation to return that favor by keeping their translators safe from retribution now that the Taliban has taken control of the country. This interpreter is just one of an estimated 25,000 interpreters who risk falling victim to Taliban retribution. “Ali” (not his real name) is now stranded without a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and has had to leave his home province because his life is in danger for helping the United States.

The translator, “Ali” (not his real name), explains that he began working as an interpreter in July, 2011 and continued working there for the next three and a half years. During this time he received several death threats if he continued his work, but he courageously stuck with the job anyway.

“I wanted to serve for my country and help my ANDSF (Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces),” Ali explains.

In 2014 Ali applied for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV) twice but was denied. The reason given is that the company Ali was working for, International Management Services (IMS), did not have a valid contract with the U.S. Government until February 2012. Therefore, employment with IMS prior to February 19, 2012, would not qualify as employment on behalf of the U.S. Government for SIV purposes, and being employed for at least 12 months in one of the requirements for an SIV.

Ali says that he struggled a lot between 2014 and 2018. He was jobless and couldn’t go out in public because his life was in danger because of his translating work. Despite the risks, Ali returned to his work as an interpreter in 2018. This time he worked with the Marines that were advising the Afghan National Army. After fifteen months the Marines left the base. Ali says that he was given a favorable job recommendation for his work and once again applied for his SIV. Once again, his application was denied.

When the American evacuation of Afghanistan began Ali left his home province but was warned to stay away from the airport by a Facebook group of Afghan war allies. There was an ongoing high threat of a terrorist attack. He was assured that an SIV would be emailed to him. There was, in fact, a terrorist attack at the airport on August 26 that killed more than 60 people, including 13 US troops. With only five days left in the evacuation, Ali was desperate enough he decided to risk going to the airport anyway, but he never made it through the gate.

The evacuation officially ended August 31.

“As you know sir that situation is going very bad day by day,” Ali emailed on Tuesday morning. “One of the Taliban commanders told his soldiers to find out those interpreters and kill them because they were the ones who were sending our soldiers to prison and showing the ways to Americans what to do and what not to do. They have started searching to find us. During night they are going to the homes and searching for the people who helped American side by side. I am from (withheld) but because of situation getting worse I left my home town now I live in (withheld). Taliban killed many people and during night going to people’s home and taking them out from home and then killing them.”

Ali is stranded, hoping for a miracle. He adds that he is not the only one. There are many other interpreters that have been left behind as well.