The browser you are using is not supported. Please consider using a modern browser.

Skip Navigation

Start of main content.

News // Refugee Resettlement

Global Refuge on CNN: We Must Protect Afghan Allies

July 29, 2021

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the president and chief executive of the Global Refuge. She previously served as a senior adviser at the State Department and as a policy director in the Obama administration. This Opinion piece originally appeared in CNN on July 28, 2021.

Sohail Pardis was on his way to pick up his sister in Afghanistan’s Khost province for the upcoming Eid celebrations marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion turned into a horrific nightmare as he reached a Taliban-controlled checkpoint along his route to Kabul. As CNN reported Friday, villagers witnessed Taliban militants drag Pardis out of the vehicle and behead him.

This abhorrent act of violence was far from random — Pardis was one of the thousands of Afghan interpreters and allies who served alongside US personnel during two decades of war in Afghanistan. As a result, they and their family members live in constant fear of persecution, torture, and murder at the hands of a vengeful Taliban with growing power as the American withdrawal reaches 95% completion…

Read the Full Piece on CNN

Take Action For Afghan Allies

Visit our online hub to learn more about the dangers facing Afghan allies, our advocacy to protect them, video resources, and ways you and your community can make a difference.

Make a Donation

Thanks to a matching gift from a generous Global Refuge board member, your gift today will go so much further. Every dollar will be doubled, up to $10,000 providing much needed assistance for our Afghan friends.

The Latest

News

May 5, 2026

The Wrong Help Can Hurt

At Global Refuge, we know that navigating the United States immigration system is not easy—and changing or attaining status is a very complicated process without expert help.
Read More
Press Release

April 28, 2026

Global Refuge Statement: Supreme Court Hearing on TPS for Haiti and Syria

Global Refuge issued a statement ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on TPS for Haiti and Syria, which has implications for hundreds of thousands of legally present immigrants.
Read More
News

April 10, 2026

Temporary status, protections for Haitians hang in the balance

This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over the planned termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria.
Read More
News

March 26, 2026

Daniel’s Path to Confidence and Stability

Daniel, a participant in the Camino a Casa program, was supported in his journey to the U.S. while seeking to support his family of 10. After being detained at the Mexican border and undergoing repatriation to his home in Huehuetango, Camino a Casa was able to help him purchase a dairy goat to support his family's financial needs, along with providing dental care that helped restore his confidence.
Read More
News · Community Support

March 25, 2026

A Student’s Perspective on Immigration and Faith

Trevyn, a high school student and son of Global Refuge ambassadors, did his senior capstone project on the need for humane immigration policy.
Read More