Lucas --
I hope this finds you well.
I have some good and bad news.
The good news: Last year, Congress passed a law allocating an additional 4,000 visas
for Afghan translators and extended the Afghan visa program until September
2017. Additionally, Congress changed the requirements to earn a visa -
for applications received after 1 October 2015, Afghans must demonstrate
at least 24 months of service on behalf of the US. Prior to the law change,
Afghans only had to serve for 12 months. Congress made sure to point out
that applications received prior to 1 October 2015 were grandfathered
into the 12 month service provision.
The bad news: Last week, the State Department released a
policy memo stating that they're unilaterally interpreting the law in a manner
inconsistent with Congress' intent - i.e. they're making up their
own rules. Specifically, the State Department has the decided that the
24 months service provision extends to all applicants, regardless of the
date they applied for a visa.
Think of it this way, imagine I offered to sell you a car and asked you
to pay $10,000. You come up with the $10,000, hand it to me, and instead
of handing you the keys, I ask for an additional $10,000 and tell you
the only way you'll get the car is if you pay the additional money.
Not fair, right? Well, that is akin to what the State Department just
did and its beyond not fair - it will condemn hundreds, if not thousands,
of veterans to death.
We estimate that this rule change could prevent up to 3,300+ Afghans from
receiving the visas they have already earned. Given that the UN estimates that the Taliban kills an Afghan every 36
hours because of their service to the US, a visa denial is essentially
a death sentence.
We will fight this in every way we can. But, to win, we need your help.
When we learned of the rule change, we asked the Afghans who we've
already helped make it to the US if they'd like to help.
Naqeeb, was one of the first to volunteer.
A few months ago, we told you about
Naqeeb - the Afghan translator who you helped save from the Taliban's death
squads last fall. Today, Naqeeb has a job and a home in America, thanks
to No One Left Behind.
And though he credits you with helping him settle in America, he credits
one American more than any other, with saving his life - Ellen DeGeneres.
I'll let Naqeeb tell it in his own words...
Naqeeb served as a translator for our military for almost five years. For that, the Taliban hunted him relentlessly. Now, safe in America, he'd love to thank Ellen in person for giving him the hope to face tomorrow. Moreover, he knows the influence Ellen has and hopes that if he can get on her show, he can use his time to advocate for the policy fixes necessary to save the 3,300+ lives that are suddenly in grave danger.
Help us get Naqeeb on Ellen and save these lives! Let Ellen know the impact she could have if she has Naqeeb on her show. Please share Naqeeb's video with Ellen on both Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #NaqeebThanksEllen.
Together, we will help fix this wrong and save these 3,300+ veterans' lives.
-Cheers,
Matt