Sixth Year, Entry Four - Martin's Story

The Man Who Burned His Proof

Day 1,830

Some allies carried their proof out of Afghanistan. Martin burned his.

"For security reasons, I destroyed everything," he said.

The papers, the ID, anything that tied him to the Americans. He owned no smartphone in those years, so there were never photos. A week after Kabul fell, he moved his family into hiding, and before that he made certain that no document in his possession could be used against him. Keeping proof and keeping alive had become opposite things, and he chose.

From January 2009 to December 2011, Martin was a cleaner for a construction and supply company that worked alongside the Americans, starting every morning with the office and the work areas around it.

"I always tried to do my job honestly, carefully, and with dedication. Every day I felt proud because I was working alongside the United States and contributing to the rebuilding of my country." 

When Martin applied for his Special Immigrant Visa, the United States verified his service from its own files. He successfully completed biometric screening, background checks, and his interview at the embassy in Islamabad. Then his visa was refused, but not for anything about him. A proclamation issued under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act suspended entry for Afghans as a category, and it caught his completed case at the final step. 

"Many Americans believe that SIV cases are denied because applicants failed to meet the requirements," he wrote. "They do not realize that many of us successfully completed every stage, including biometric screening, background checks, and visa interviews, only to be blocked at the very end because of a broad political decision under Section 212(f)."

He can cite the provision that stopped his life, because he lives inside it now.

The family waits near Islamabad, Pakistan, with visas expired and unrenewable, leaving the house only for food and essentials, their children unable to attend school while in hiding, and, through it all, Martin only asks for humanitarian exceptions for applicants whose vetting is complete.

"We stood with the United States, and now our lives are in danger. Please do not let America's promise become a betrayal."

Support allies like Martin as they wait for the promise to be fulfilled: https://give.nooneleft.org/campaign/831559/donate