Here are the stories of four individuals whom our Immigration Legal Services team has helped to gain asylee status guaranteeing their right to remain in the United States. Thank you ILS team for your diligence. You are changing lives.

Jawid, only 25 years old, worked as a police officer for over 7 years in the Afghan National Army. He was evacuated to the United States on September 3, 2021. ILS (Zoila) filed his asylum application in late March, he traveled to Chicago for interview in mid-May, and on September 19, he was granted asylum.

Shamsullah is a 20-year-old who was self-employed as a photographer. Most of his family worked with the government – one at the airport, another for the police. One of his uncles was killed, purportedly by the Taliban. He was evacuated to the United States on October 13, 2021, but his wife is still in Afghanistan and he very much wishes to be able to bring her here to join him as soon as possible as he fears for her safety. ILS (Kathy) filed his asylum application in late February, he traveled to Chicago for interview in early April, and on September 13, he was granted asylum.

Faisal is 15 years old and was evacuated to the United States (with his older brother who has a separate case) on September 10, 2021. They both fear persecution by the Taliban because their father worked for the Americans and was in the processing of applying for a Special Immigrant Visa, their older brother was in the Afghan National Army, and their uncle, who also helped the Americans, was killed by the Taliban. ILS (Rebecca) filed his asylum application in mid-March, he traveled to Chicago for interview in early May, and on September 14, he was granted asylum.

Peghla is a 50-year-old high school graduate who worked in marketing prior to fleeing Afghanistan. Her brothers worked for military and/or NATO, and one of them has an approved SIV and is pursuing adjustment of status. She was evacuated to the United States on October 13, 2021. ILS (Zoila) filed her asylum application in late February, she traveled to Chicago for interview in early April, and on September 20, she was granted asylum.