Promise Kept: Afghan Ally Family Reaches Iowa After NOLB Evacuation
- No One Left Behind
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
By Matthew Marcellus, Director of Communications, No One Left Behind
ARLINGTON, Va. – When Arifa Zaki's work supporting American evacuation efforts made her family a Taliban target, the Virginia-based nonprofit No One Left Behind stepped in to provide what the U.S. government no longer could: a flight to safety.
On April 9, 2025, six members of the Zaki family landed in Des Moines after years of hiding. Their evacuation flights were among over 3000 No One Left Behind (NOLB) has coordinated since the U.S. government suspended federally-funded flights for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders in January.
"When we heard we were going to the United States, it felt like we were given a new life," said Mohammad Sadiq Zaki through his son, Shahamat, who translates for the family.
NOLB, which has supported the resettlement of more than 13,000 Afghan allies since its founding, purchased the family's commercial flights and connected them with an Iowa sponsorship group.
A Security Guard's Service
Arifa Zaki worked as a security officer for CARE, supporting Afghan ally evacuations at a facility in the Kabul area. The role made her eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) but also made her family a target.
The family is Hazara, an ethnic minority facing targeted Taliban violence. After Kabul fell in August 2021, they moved between rental homes every few weeks, never revealing Arifa's work to neighbors.
"We had to move constantly to avoid getting arrested," Sadiq Zaki said. "We lived secretly."
Arifa applied for her visa in 2022 but chose to remain in Afghanistan for two additional years, continuing her work to help evacuate other allies before accepting her own exit.
Partnership Makes Evacuation Possible
By March, the situation had become untenable. The family fled to Pakistan, where No One Left Behind coordinated their flights and connected them with a sponsorship group organized by Jane Patton, a longtime volunteer with immigrant services in Iowa.
Patton's group had originally prepared to welcome a Syrian refugee family, but those flights were canceled when the administration suspended the refugee program.
"We just started pivoting to what we can do," Patton said. Special Immigrant Visas are distinct from the refugee program, so SIV holders like the Zakis were still able to immigrate to the United States, if they could find a way. Within weeks of connecting with NOLB, the Zakis received their flight itinerary.
The family arrived at Des Moines International Airport after a 48-hour journey. Patton and other sponsors greeted them with donated household items and Afghan meals prepared by the local community.
Six months later, the family has established routines. Shahamat Zaki, 20, attends Des Moines Area Community College pursuing electrical engineering after a four-year gap in his education. Shojaat Zaki, 18, is a junior in high school, and also plays soccer for a local team. The family has obtained driver's licenses and purchased vehicles with support from sponsors and the Welcome.US Veteran Sponsor Fund.
Arifa is studying English and working toward her driver's license, with plans to return to work.
Three of the Zaki children could not travel with the family. Under U.S. immigration law, children must be unmarried and less than 21 years of age to receive derivative status. The family and their sponsors are continuing to work with immigration attorneys to find a pathway to reunite the family in the United States.
Ongoing Mission
Since January, when government-funded flights stopped, organizations like NOLB have become the primary evacuation pathway for approved visa holders.
"No One Left Behind was the one who connected us to a very amazing sponsoring family," Shahamat said. "Thanks to No One Left Behind first of all."
For the family, their arrival represents both safety and possibility.
"Move forward with full dedication and hope," Arifa and Sadiq said. "The journey has hardships, but there are always so many kind people who can help. You are not alone."
