Comment DAM BARKHUFF: Keeping our promise of Afghan allies who assisted Vermont veterans – The Manchester Journal

Thousands of Vermonters have served in the longest war of our country, which ended in 2021 with the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Five Vermonters gave the last full measure of devotion to this country killed in a battle in this country. The men and women we sent to Harsh when Kabul fell, many of these Afghan men and their families were stuck in Afghanistan with a serious risk of death or imprisonment.

Since 2021, more than 500 Afghans have moved to Vermont, including hundreds of men who have boldly served with US forces in Afghanistan. In the Afghan Alliance Vermont, the 501C3 charity, dedicated to welcoming these new Americans, as they escape from the brutal Taliban situation of a refugee.

Trump’s presidency directly focused on Vermont veterans and our Afghan friends through a moral trauma: to force us to withdraw from promises. Last night, the federal grants that the Afghan Alliance in Vermont depends to serve this community were frozen.

These Afghan allies risk the lives and safety of their families to support US missions. In return for their priceless service, the US government has promised them to move to the United States and the opportunity to reunite their families here in Vermont. Unfortunately, almost three years later, many of these promises remain unfulfilled. Many of our refugees are worried about seeing their families again. Some take the huge risk of returning to Afghanistan hidden at a high personal price and danger. Some were subsequently closed by the Taliban courts.

The election of President Trump and his progress 2025 stopped all the reception of refugees in the United States and specifically calls for the suspension of temporary protected visas for status and undressing such status. According to Trump and Project 2025, the Executive Branch has already completely closed new applications for immigration in US citizenship and immigration services if applications become “excessive”. Of course, what is excessive is not defined.

Men and women who were walking with pedestrian patrols in Helmand and Host with Wermonters can never see their families again if Donald Trump and Stephen Miller make their way. These are men and women who have been promised a new life in America with their families. Trump has hung these men and women to dry. We need help and we need it now.

At the end of the day we are vermonters and here, our word is our connection. At the Afghan Alliance in Vermont, we do not give up the challenge.

Please learn about the circumstances of your new neighbors. Take a minute and read or work on VTAFGANALLIANCE.org. Write or call your state representative, governor Scott and our federal representatives. Insist on the “exception of Afghanistan” to the coming dragon immigration policies. This is the right thing, like Americans and as Vermonters.

Dan Barkhuf is an emergency department at the Medical Center of the University of Vermont, a former Navy Seal, founder of veterans for responsible leadership, and co -founder of the Afghan Alliance Vermont. Opinions expressed by Columnists and OP-Expired Writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.