Welcome to Ep. 89 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today, my guests are Sonia Norton, Director of Advocacy atNo One Left Behind, and Daniel Salazar, a refugee and protection policy advisor at Global Refuge.

We discuss Temporary Protected Status, and why it was usedfor our Afghan allies in the aftermath of Operation Allies Refuge. We talk about the continuation of a dangerous situation inside Afghanistan for our allies to return to, and what still remains unknown about developments.

About the guests:

Sonia Norton is the Director of Advocacy at No One LeftBehind. Before joining No One Left Behind, she worked in the House of Representatives for five years with members of the House Committees on Armed Services, Judiciary, and Ways and Means. Most recently, she served as the Senior Legislative Assistant for Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), where she led a policy portfolio including Afghan allies, foreign affairs, and judiciary issues. In that role, Sonia was the lead House Democratic staffer for the introduction of the Afghan Adjustment Act and was named one of the Top 10 Policy Staff to Watch. Sonia has also served as a Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistant and was elected for three terms on the Women’s Congressional Staff Association Board.

Daniel Salazar is a refugee and protection policy advisor atGlobal Refuge, the national refugee resettlement agency formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. He does policy and advocacy work on the U.S. refugee admissions program, Afghan and Ukrainian resettlement, and other topics. He has worked on Afghan-related legislation such as the Afghan Adjustment Act, the Afghan SIV program, and CARE authorization since July 2022, first at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and now at Global Refuge. He is also a coalition member of Evacuate Our Allies and has helped campaigns on Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan and re-parole for Afghans. Before this work, he was a journalist in Kansas and Texas before moving to Washington, DC for his master’s in foreign service at Georgetown University.

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as acivilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com

Welcome to Episode 88 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today, my guest is Steve Lewis. Steve has been a high school educator and coach for about thirty years. He writes for Havok Journal and is an incredible advocate for veterans. Steve is also involved with advocacy for our Afghan allies.

We talk about Steve’s family legacy of service, and the lessons he learned from the veterans in his life. We also discuss how the events of 9/11 led him to become a veteran advocate, and the various ways he remembers American veterans.

We also discuss Steve’s current endeavor of chronicling the actions of the 1-24th Infantry Regiment.

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

My guest today is Alison Tabor, a Supervising Attorney with Resettlement Action DC (REACT DC) and a Principal Attorney with AGT LAW PLLC.

Alison discusses cases of Green Card removal from Afghans in the SIV program and a pause in Green Card issuance for SIV applicants, asylum seekers, and refugees. She also answers questions from Afghan listeners.

Mentioned in the episode:

Recent article on COM denials and revocations, including those in the states: https://gazette.com/news/wex/abandoning-america-s-afghan-allies/article_d05d3711-e194-58b9-bbe1-7941c9d4a3d3.html

Reason Article about USRAP family who reached US after USRAP suspension: https://reason.com/2025/03/21/afghan-refugees-stuck-in-limbo-as-usrap-suspension-defies-court-order/

A list of resources can be found here:

Pro bono legal service providers who represent people in removal proceedings at immigration courts (EOIR): https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers

Pro bono legal service providers who assist people in custody with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1582586/dl?inline=

Pro bono legal service providers for remote credible fear interview (CFI): https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1571576/dl?inline=

NAKASEC 24/7 HOTLINE: 1-844-500-3222 (No Dari/Pashto interpretation available)

National Immigration Legal Services Directory - Nonprofit Resource Center https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to Episode 87 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today, my guest is Shahir, a student at Texas Tech University. Shahir’s family currently hold Special Immigrant Visa and Priority-2 U.S. Refugee Admissions Program cases and have been greatly impacted by the executive orders suspending the USRAP and freezing foreign aid.

We discuss Shahir’s family’s choice to send him outside of Afghanistan for his studies to protect him from violence inside the country, and the transitions he made to become accustomed to living in a country where there was peace.

Shahir talks about his father’s work for the U.S. Embassy, USAID, and Afghan Aid, and how this led him to qualify for both an SIV and a P-2 referral to the USRAP, though he was urged not to pursue the latter. We talk about Shahir’s family’s prospects, particularly those of his four sisters, who prompted his father to find a path to safety.

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to Episode 86 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

My guest today is Nasir, a former Afghan military member who awaits transfer from the CARE Team for his Priority-1 case in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Nasir talks about his incredible attitude in the face of hardship, his service to his country, and his hope that he can one day be part of efforts to restore peace in Afghanistan.

Nasir and his American friends have started a GoFundMe to support his efforts to reach safety and start anew. You can find that fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-sons-dream-a-fathers-plan-for-a-safe-future

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to Episode 85 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, my guest is U.S. Army veteran James McCants. James entered the U.S. Army in 2006 and graduated from the Defense Language Institute after finishing the Tagalog language basic course in 2007. After completing ATI and going on two deployments to the Philippines, James deployed to Afghanistan between March 2011 and February 2012 with the Headquarters Support Company of 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group. He spent time in Baghlan, Konduz and Faryab provinces, with the majority of his deployment with ODA 1313 at Village Stability Platform (VSP) Mangal located in Mangal village, Baghlan-I-Jadid district, Baghlan Province. James talks about his deployment and the growth and safety that the Army enabled in their area of operations. We also talk about his connection to Afghanistan after the war ended, including his dogged efforts to mark U.S. bases on Google Maps, and loudly advocating for our Special Immigrant Visa allies with his local leaders in Juneau. We talk about many of the wounds that exist for veterans following the now-unsung conflict in Afghanistan, and why remembering Afghanistan is important now and into perpetuity.About the host: Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow Beth: on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/ on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85 on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85 on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project, where we cover alltopics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today, my guest is Julie Pacheco-Toye, the foster mother of“Kara,” a young Afghan teen who came to the U.S. unaccompanied following the withdrawal, and went through a great deal of uncertainty before finding herself in Julie and her husband’s home. Now, Kara experiences even greater uncertainty as President Trump’s executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and possible impending Afghanistan travel ban may put an even longer than anticipated pause on her reunion with her family.

Julie and I talk about Kara’s tumultuous journey to theU.S., the struggle to demonstrate that she was a child after being processed into the country, and the multiple housing situations she endured before Julie and her husband became her foster parents.

We talk about the journey to bring Kara’s sister herethrough humanitarian parole, and the continued uncertainty about the remainder of Kara’s family, who are waiting on the USRAP and do not know when they might be reunited with their children.

If you would like to support Kara and her family, you can doso through their GoFundMe, here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/reunite-a-young-afghan-refugee-with-her-family

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as acivilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to Episode 83 of The Afghanistan Project, where we cover all topics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today’s guest is Mursal, a sixteen-year-old Afghan who helped to educate girls in her country after being forbidden from attending the 8th grade in 2021. With the help of some amazing Americans, Mursal was able to escape her country and is now in school in the U.S. She is the author behind Hope’s Corner, which is hosted on Kate Kovarovic’s Substack.

Mursal talks about her efforts to educate girls after the Taliban’s takeover, and the Taliban’s horrifying attempts to make her stop teaching.

We also talk about the practice of forced and child marriage still occurring inside Afghanistan and the great trauma it is causing.

Find Kate Kovarovic’s Substack here:

https://substack.com/@katekovarovic

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project, where we cover alltopics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today’s guest is Layma Murtaza, a board member from Aseel, which provides food and assistance to Afghans in need and also helps Afghan artisans bring their products to the world through the web. Layma has over 10 years of experience working in the international development and humanitarian space in Syria and Afghanistan, through NGOs like the International Rescue Committee, Danish Refugee Council, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the International Organization for Migration

Layma talks about Aseel’s innovative approach todecentralizing aid and the importance of continuing assistance to Afghanistan in the aftermath of executive orders that impact the country.

Find Aseel on the web: https://aseelapp.com/

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as acivilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85on the web: https://bethwbailey.com/

Welcome to The Afghanistan Project, where we cover alltopics related to two decades of war in Afghanistan, and the fallout of our Afghanistan withdrawal.

Today, I’m very honored to bring on Ambassador M. AshrafHaidari is the Founder & President of Displaced International (DI) and a former refugee who is now a U.S. citizen. Overcoming significant challenges, he has built a distinguished career as a humanitarian leader and diplomat, with more than 20 years of experience in national and international organizations across multiple continents. His work reflects the values of democracy, rights, liberty, and equality, contributing to both his birth country and the United States. Drawing on his own experiences as a former refugee, he relentlessly advocates for displaced populations worldwide, particularly Afghan P1 and P2 resettlement applicants affected by the USRAP freeze, urging the Trump Administration to grant them an exemption.

Ashraf discusses the origins of displacement and the methods that DI is using to assist refugees on the move around the world, particularly those who have been awaiting assistance in the USRAP program.

Ashraf also tells his own story of life as an internally-displaced person before becoming a refugee and now U.S. citizen.

Find Displaced International:

On Twitter: https://x.com/displacedint

On the web: https://displacedinternational.org/

About the host:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as acivilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner.

Follow Beth:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwbailey85/

on Twitter: https://x.com/BWBailey85

on Substack: https://substack.com/@bwbailey85

on the web: https://bethwbailey.com