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Ali, a former Afghan air force pilot, evacuated Kabul on August 15, 2021, as the Taliban took control. He arrived in the US and was granted asylum on January 3, 2025, anticipating a green card that would allow him to work legally as a pilot and bring his family to safety.

However, following a recent shooting incident involving an Afghan man, the Trump administration implemented sweeping immigration restrictions, halting asylum cases and suspending special immigrant visas for Afghans. This has left many, including Ali, fearing detention and loss of their status in the US.

Afghan communities condemned the shooting, but the incident has intensified scrutiny on Afghan immigrants. Ali now drives for Uber while pursuing flight school, supporting his family who fled to a neighboring country. He expresses concern over the changing political climate and its impact on Afghan refugees, fearing that policies may equate him with the actions of others and threaten his and his family’s safety.