A year after fleeing Afghanistan, local refugees could face deportation

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Nearly a year ago, thousands of people in Afghanistan escaped the violent takeover of the Taliban. Many cities across the nation, including Bowling Green, welcomed Afghan refugees into safety.

“I’m happy, yes, I’m really happy. The things that U.S. offers, it’s phenomenal,” said an Afghan refugee. 

This refugee, who can’t show his face due to family still living in Afghanistan, is one of 350 Afghan refugees who have successfully acclimated to life in south central Kentucky.

Most of them now have a job, a car and live in a safe place. 

But every Afghan refugee allowed into the U.S. to escape the Taliban, knows that America’s protection from danger could only be temporary. They were allowed into the country on humanitarian parole. 

Now Afghan refugees in the U.S. must apply for asylum and prove they were feeling persecution and provide documentation.

“I’m kind of scared I haven’t applied for my asylum yet,” said the refugee. 

The consequences of not proving this status… is deportation. 

“Just imagine what will happen if any of them happens to land in Kabul today and the Taliban knows they have been deported from the United States. You can imagine what will happen to that individual,” said the International Center of Kentucky Executive Director Albert Mbanfu. 

There could be a silver lining…the Afghan Adjustment Act. It would provide them with indefinite protection in our country, but Congress has yet to take action. 

“When they came in, it became a contested issue and Congress cannot agree on that pathway for legalization for all of the Afghans that we brought in,” said Mbanfu.

Many Afghans that fled their home country sacrificed so much for their safety. This refugee tells News 40 there were only enough seats for him and his two siblings… and his parents were left behind.

“Based on their thinking, we were young, we were the most vulnerable. we should go, they have lived their life, we deserve it. It was hard, I didn’t want to come but somehow I had to for me and my siblings. They were like just go,” said the refugee.