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By: Karim, Former Afghan Interpreter My name is Karim. Years ago, I made a decision that seemed small at the time — I accepted a job as an interpreter with a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. I was young. I didn’t realize that choice would follow me for the rest of my life. Working as an interpreter was nothing like people imagine. We weren’t sitting behind desks translating documents. We were out front — walking through villages, valleys, and mountain roads alon

Media Contact: Matthew Marcellus  | Media@nooneleft.org WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Yesterday, Feb. 11, House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats held a shadow hearing discussing the relocation pathways that directly affect our Afghan wartime allies. Although shadow hearings are held by the minority and are not formally included in the legislative process, it platformed the sustained bipartisan work by U.S. veterans to keep the promise to our Afghan allies.  We are grateful for our p

How one Afghan political specialist is rebuilding his career through the America’s Scholarship Program. By Matthew Marcellus | No One Left Behind in collaboration with Afghan Future Fund For Afghan SIV holders rebuilding professional careers in the U.S., programs like the America's Allies Scholarship Program provide critical financial stability during the transition. The kitchen table is covered with vocabulary flashcards. Mohammad sits with his four children, working through

Media Contact: Matthew Marcellus  | Media@nooneleft.org WASHINGTON, D.C. –  No One Left Behind welcomes Friday's federal court decision ordering the U.S. Department of State to resume processing Chief of Mission (COM) applications for Afghan and Iraqi allies with pending Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications. The ruling requires this first step in the significant SIV vetting to resume immediately for class members whose applications have been pending longer than the congr

Tell Congress: Reopen the Afghan SIV Program! On January 1, 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspended the issuance of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to eligible, fully-vetted Afghan allies. This leaves our closest wartime allies at risk of violent retribution by the very terrorists the proclamation seeks to address. It is key that your Members of Congress hear from you – their constituent – that keeping the promise to our Afghan allies by reopening the Afghan SIV progr

WASHINGTON – As the Department of Defense confirms the completion of U.S. military withdrawal from Iraqi federal territory, No One Left Behind urges the Administration to exempt Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants from the recently announced suspension of immigrant visa processing. The U.S. Government first announced this planned withdrawal on September 27, 2024. The State Department's January 15, 2026, announcement pauses immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 co

WASHINGTON — Today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing reconfirmed that the Special Immigrant Visa program balances America’s commitment to wartime allies and rigorous vetting and national security concerns. As veterans, military spouses, and diplomatic leaders each shared with the committee, the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program remains a national security imperative that demands bipartisan commitment, not partisan recrimination. "We are grateful that the Committe

WASHINGTON –  No One Left Behind is closely monitoring reports that the U.S. State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, beginning January 21. The suspension, announced via public reporting, will continue indefinitely while the Department reviews screening procedures. We are deeply concerned by this development and its potential new impacts on Iraqi allies who served alongside U.S. troops and are currently completing

STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD Andrew Sullivan Executive Director, No One Left Behind SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SUBCOMMITTEES ON BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION AND ON CRIME AND COUNTERTERRORISM “Biden’s Afghan Parolee Program – A Trojan Horse with Flawed Vetting and Deadly Consequences” January 14, 2026 Chairs Cornyn and Hawley, Ranking Members Padilla and Durbin, and Members of the Committee: I join you in mourning Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and in praying for Air Force S

WASHINGTON — Combat veterans who served alongside Afghan allies are calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to preserve the integrity of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program ahead of Wednesday's hearing on Afghan evacuations, emphasizing critical distinctions that risk being lost in the aftermath of tragedy. The Jan. 14 hearing, titled "Biden's Afghan Parolee Program: A Trojan Horse with Flawed Vetting and Deadly Consequences," follows the Nov. 26 attack that ki

Official Statement to NOLB Clients December 01, 2025 We know the recent developments around Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) processing have caused uncertainty. At this stage, verified information remains limited. We are awaiting official guidance to understand what these changes mean, which will allow us to provide accurate advice on next steps for the community. In the meantime, please take the following steps to stay prepared: Monitor your email closely Watch for any updates

Official Statement from No One Left Behind on the Presidential Proclamation on the expanded travel ban: December 16, 2025 Today’s Presidential Proclamation, as written, risks ending the exemption that has so far allowed America’s closest wartime allies, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, to finish their journey to safety. The policy change would go into effect on January 1, 2026. The proclamation would prevent relocation of Afghans who worked directly on behalf of

Official Announcement: Mandatory Deadline for New Chief of Mission (COM) Applications December 10, 2025 Dear friends, This is an important update regarding the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and the upcoming mandatory deadline for new Chief of Mission (COM) applications. Final Deadline: December 31, 2025 The last day to submit a new COM application, DS-157, is December 31, 2025. Any application submitted after this date will not be accepted unless the United States Co

Official NOLB Statement on the Nov. 26 attack on West Virginia National Guardsmen November 26, 2025. No One Left Behind grieves the loss of National Guard Soldier Sarah Beckstrom, who died from injuries sustained in yesterday's attack. Our hearts break for her family, for Andrew Wolfe who continues fighting for his life, and for all those who knew and served alongside them. We condemn this act of violence in the strongest possible terms and support a full investigation and de

Nearly a decade ago, Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Annie Yu Kleiman deployed to Afghanistan as part of a Cultural Support Team, or American women who worked alongside U.S. special operations forces. Her mission was to train a select group of Afghan women for the Female Tactical Platoon (FTP), an elite unit that conducted combat missions and night raids with U.S. Army Rangers and other special operators. "They were in danger for being in the military, they were in danger for bein

The Senate and House Committees on Appropriations are crafting the legislation to fund the federal government beyond the current funding expiration on January 30, 2026. This is a critical legislative opportunity that has historically included substantial provisions to support our Afghan allies – extending program authorization and increasing the number of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) so that the Afghan SIV program can bring America’s allies to safety.  It is key that your M

FOB Salerno, Afghanistan – 2009 The mission was falling apart before it started. France Hoang needed to coordinate with local Afghan leaders for an operation. The cultural barriers were insurmountable. The linguistic gaps, wider. Trust? Nonexistent. Then Jabar stepped in. He was more than a security guard. He was the bridge. The translator of more than words, of intent, of tactics, of why a group of Americans needed these leaders to believe in them. "Without Jabar bridging th

Qalat, Afghanistan – 2007 JP's introduction to the cost of service came on a routine patrol. An IED. One American soldier killed. One interpreter, Abdul, killed beside him. "They faced the same threats we did," JP said. He served as Senior Enlisted Advisor on an Embedded Training Team from July 2007 to July 2008, working with the 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan National Army. But Abdul's death wasn't the end of his family's nightmare. It was the beginning. "Our i

By No One Left Behind ARLINGTON, Va - After months of sustained advocacy, the U.S. government is resuming flight support for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) starting this week. This represents meaningful progress toward fulfilling America’s commitment to those who served alongside U.S. forces, and we’re thankful the Administration has resumed this vital support. No One Left Behind (NOLB) launched emergency fligh

By The Afghan Future Fund and No One Left Behind New York, NY—Afghan Future Fund (AFF) and No One Left Behind (NOLB) are proud to announce the first round of awardees for the America’s Allies Scholarship Program (AASP) , a landmark program that provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders who served with U.S. Armed Forces, enabling them to pursue a college degree or professional training in the United States.  A