Afghans find refuge in U.S.

Lutheran, The, May 2002 by Krueger, Karen

Congregations help, wait for more

The halting speech and anxiety of Afghans entering our communities tell of the trauma and determination that brought them to the United States. Listening ears and helping hands in congregations make navigating a new life situation more manageable.

When a woman, her head covered, tentatively entered an English as a Second Language class hosted by an ELCA congregation just days after Sept. 11, her story moved the parishioners to action.

"Freedom motivated this family to come. Her husband is an enemy of the Taliban, and they left everything... diplomas, family members ... for this chance," says a member of the congregation, which asked that identities not be used to protect the family from ongoing security threats. "Right now, we're just trying to keep them from being homeless."

A congregational food drive stocked the family's pantry, taking into account Muslim dietary law. "There are so many barriers to this family getting established. Even getting a driver's license is more complicated since 9-11 since fewer IDs are accepted," the member says. "They are seeking freedom and fleeing from a war zone. Many of our ancestors did that very same thing. We must help."

Women and children only

It's rare for a refugee family from Afghanistan to arrive in this country accompanied by a man. Women, often newly and traumatically widowed, come with their children-- depressed and scared. "Culturally, a woman [in Afghanistan] without a man is viewed as a nonperson. Sadly, we live in a society where some women begin to think of themselves as useless as they age, especially if no spouse or partner is in the picture," says Elizabeth Senft, director for church relations at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, New York.

Senft links U.S. and Afghan widows. "Women from Lutheran congregations can use their skills ... of widowhood as a gift to these women arriving in the U.S.," she says.

Najia Kerimi, an Afghan refugee, was doing her best to hold her household together while learning a new language so she could find work. Then she hit a serious snag-she and her three children ran out of rent money.

A contact made at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Phoenix, resulted in payment to the landlord, bus passes and even tennis shoes with sparkly stars for Kerimi's 10-year-old daughter. Kerimi has since found a job. Her exemplary work performance caused the employer to contact Lutheran Social Ministries of the Southwest's refugee resettlement program for additional referrals.

"We've watched her rebloom," says Jill Newburg Campos, LSMS sponsorship director. "Staff has been able to see her confidence level rise, and she glows."

LIRS officials hope more Afghan refugees will be on their way to the United States this summer as the flow from Afghanistan, Africa and other troubled regions-- bottlenecked since Sept. 11-begins to pick up.

"It is terribly ironic that after Sept. 11 the only group that was blocked [from entering the United States] was refugees, the most screened of any group of entrants," says Ralston Deffenbaugh Jr., LIRS president. He praises individuals and congregations who pressured Congress and the Bush administration to keep a pledge to allow 70,000 refugees to enter the country this year.

"For a small, very important remnant of women at risk-widows or those who have been violated in the course of fighting-it won't be safe to return to Afghanistan," Deffenbaugh says. "We try to help develop a sense of safety, stability and trust in this new home [in the United States] without making [refugees] relive the horrible things they've been through."

Krueger is The Lutheran's Metropolitan Washington, D. C., Synod correspondent and supplement editor