A Mother’s Story: Nasreen

Beginning Mother’s Day weekend, Global Refuge will be sharing a weekly story celebrating mothers and mother figures who have risked everything to pursue safety and a brighter future for the children in their care.

Nasreen* was just a young woman when she found herself thrust into the role of guardian of her niece and nephew Aisha and Amir.

The children’s mother was one of the tens of thousands of Afghan citizens who served as interpreters, translators, and in other key roles during the U.S. military’s two-decade mission in Afghanistan. These brave men and women risked their lives to help our country. In return, the U.S. government promised to protect them and their children by issuing Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan allies, including Amir and Aisha’s parents.

But a week before the family was set to leave for America, Amir and Aisha’s parents were brutally murdered by the Taliban, leaving their young children vulnerable and alone. When threats of retaliation put the children’s lives in grave danger, Nasreen stepped forward without hesitation to protect them, even though she was just a young adult herself.

There are many ways to define what it means to be a mother. For Nasreen, it meant rising to meet the needs of two grieving children in the face of unimaginable loss. She became their protector, advocate, and caregiver—in many ways a mother figure—when they needed it most.

After the fall of the Afghan government to the Taliban in 2021, Nasreen knew they needed to escape. She courageously relocated the children to Pakistan while their U.S.-based family worked with the Global Refuge Legal Services team to navigate the immigration process.

After our team requested that the State Department review the children’s eligibility for a new visa category—one created to protect the surviving children of Afghan allies—and a lengthy immigration process, the family’s turbulent journey came to a happy and emotional ending with the safe arrival of Amir, Aisha and Nasreen on United States soil.

As they settled into their new community, Global Refuge continued to work with partner organizations to ensure the children received ongoing support, including assistance in enrolling Aisha and Amir in school.

While Nasreen’s family is safe for now they, and others holding Special Immigrant Visas, find themselves in immigration limbo after the new administration has moved to revoke the legal status of some refugees who were allowed into the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons.

Parents, guardians, caretakers and others who take on the responsibility of protecting and nurturing others deserve the chance to raise children in safety. At Global Refuge, we’re here to stand with them as they build new lives, no matter how long the journey.

*Names have been changed for our clients’ protection.