The New York Times --- Letters
Aiding Afghan Refugees in the U.S.
To the Editor:
Re “Afghan Allies Deserve Our Help,” by Farah Stockman (Opinion, Dec. 20):
In discussing the new Biden administration program allowing “ordinary Americans” to privately sponsor resettlement, Ms. Stockman is correct in saying that “Afghans are known for their hospitality.” I know this firsthand because in August my husband and I became hosts to a special immigrant visa family of five from Afghanistan. They were resettled by Catholic Charities, their official sponsor.
The father (who risked his life protecting American soldiers) and his family are living in a rental unit we own. They are no longer in their 90-day resettlement period, but the charity did help them get the documentation necessary to secure work, attend school and get medical care. My husband and I have been paying most of their bills and providing them with advice. When visiting, we are treated with great respect and wonderful teas. We have come to love them.
The family will make it in America — my husband and I are committed to that. I’m sure that’s also true of others like us, acting as private sponsors. The outpouring of support from friends and neighbors has been remarkable.
Cynthia Sitcov
Arlington, Va.
To the Editor:
Farah Stockman points out real advantages of private sponsorship for Afghan refugees. But ultimately, personal, neighborhood or broader community support can go only so far. Afghan doctors, lawyers, accountants and teachers without U.S. credentials are forced to take jobs well below their skills. Less educated arrivals get consigned to low-wage jobs.
Just as the U.S. has helped millions of Americans recover from the trauma of war through a chance to go to school under the G.I. Bill, Congress should consider a G.I. Bill for the Afghans who fought and worked alongside Americans during 20 years of war. Access to community colleges and public universities would go a long way toward helping them rebuild their lives and reimagine their futures. It would speed integration into their new country and enhance their ability to contribute to it.
Desaix Myers
Arlington, Va.
The writer, a U.S. Agency for International Development retiree, is helping to resettle Afghans.