Afghan refugees have a long way to go in America

In 2021, the Taliban, a A fundamentalist Islamic militia regained power in Afghanistan. As a result, approximately 76,000 Afghan individuals were resettled in the United States. Around 3,000 of them were placed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

There are numerous social services available to Afghan refugees upon arrival; However, a crucial question remains: Are these services sufficient to allow all Afghan refugees to adjust to a new life?

Resettlement agencies

When refugees arrive in the United States, they are met at the airport by a resettlement agency. They are then taken to temporary accommodation – be it a hotel, apartment or homeless shelter, depending on availability and circumstances. The agency is responsible for their immediate support and transition.

Upon arrival, the resettlement agency offers families or individuals the choice between a matching grant or a cash allocation.

A suitable grant provides shelter, supplies, food, transportation, medical care, English classes, etc. to refugees.

On the other hand, the monetary allotment is a fixed amount per adult that allows them to do so the freedom to distribute resources as one sees fit. While flexibility can be beneficial, it can also be difficult to manage a complex change entirely on the refugees themselves.

“If you get this job, they just cut off all the support and that’s not fair because as I see there is no permanent job for refugees,” said Ms. Mashal, an Afghan refugee. Mashal is currently in a situation where she had a permanent contract with a fixed income, so the agency cut her support. After her contract expired, she found herself in a quandary.

“Refugee resettlement agencies face a major task: They have to look after more refugees with tighter budgets and have the same expectations of success,” it says Scholars Strategy Network.

The Afghan Unemployment rate is increasing, so companies must work towards a system that increases the importance of long-term career goals and ultimately financial freedom.

Employment challenges

Mentoring is not always an easy task, especially when the mentees have unfair problems that would not have happened without refugees.

“When Hasan arrived, I knew he had great potential,” said Mark Freeman, a mentor for Afghan refugees.

Freeman began serving refugees through Lutheran Social Services 11 years ago and then independently three years ago with the arrival of post-Taliban refugees recaptured Kabul. “I got involved right away,” Freeman said.

Hasan Qurbani is an Afghan refugee, Freeman, who follows him through his transformation into his new life in the United States. Qurbani worked several jobs, but Freeman always felt that “short-term gains would not be valuable to Hasan because he had greater potential with his master’s in IT.”

There were several job-related situations where Hasan was treated poorly. In one specific example, a company took advantage of him by putting him “in an extremely complex situation and then leaving him alone when his colleague went on vacation. “They let him go when the colleague came back from vacation,” Freeman said. “I told Hasan that what they did to him was really wrong.” Hasan was exploited and used as a temporary placeholder for a colleague when he wanted to make a career.

The transition into professional life comes with its own set of challenges.

The education system in Afghanistan is different from that in the United States. So if a person from Afghanistan receives their degree before relocation, it will not always be valid in the United States. Fortunately, this was not the case for Hasan.

“Finding a job is the hard part” Mashal said. Most federal jobs require certain skills or a higher level of education that refugees may lack. As a result, their path to independence becomes more challenging.

There is also the problem of a language barrier. Since most Afghans do not speak English as their first language, finding a job can be even more difficult. Therefore, positions are sought that do not require a lot of communication.

Coordination of agencies

The Texas Office of Refugees is a system responsible for coordinating state refugee services.

“TXOR’s goal is to build capacity and establish resource-based stakeholder relationships with state and federal leaders to advance and advance the work of partners and refugee client outcomes,” according to the Texas Office of Refugees.

Local resettlement agencies receive funding from TXOR to assist refugees. They also monitor these companies to determine suitability to conduct program monitoring for compliance, management, design and resource development.

Additional support

Once refugees have settled into their temporary accommodation, they will submit an application Medicaid And Food stampsknown as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These programs play a critical role in alleviating financial stress and ensuring basic needs are met.

Medicaid provides “health.” Coverage for low-income children, families, seniors and people with disabilities“ said Texas Health and Human Services.

Food stamps “Provide food benefits to low-income families,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

These services provide refugees with essential support in dealing with the challenges in their new country.

Non-federal refugee aid

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, refugee programs are often run by nonprofit organizations, Catholic churches and local mosques.

These types of services provide more tailored assistance and connect refugees with other members of their community.

It is difficult for refugees to participate in these programs because “HSaving a program is not a problem, but it is very important to know how to access these programs. Without guidance, people don’t know, making it harder for them to figure out how to benefit,” the Afghan Refugee Mentorship Program explained.

Resettlement agencies are typically key to connecting refugees with programs.

Community support helps children enroll in school, supports adults in finding employment, and provides medical care for trauma or illness.

“Psychosocial support services are very important for refugees who have fled very difficult circumstances,” says Devon Conesenior attorney at Refugees International said

Mashal said churches and mosques have offered tremendous support to her and her family.

“I received help from both of them without regard to my religion, my color or my background, nothing, just their support for refugees,” she said.

This sentiment shows the importance of community support networks that transcend cultural and religious boundaries.

Diploma

Afghan refugees in Dallas-Fort Worth illustrate the resilience and adaptation challenges in their new lives.

Resettlement agencies provide essential initial support, but long-term success depends on overcoming barriers to employment. Additionally, refugees like Qurbani and Mashal must overcome educational challenges and integrate into the community.

These programs actively alleviate financial stress and ensure basic needs are met. The voices of these individuals demonstrate the importance of community support and access to resources.

Successful integration into the States requires not only immediate assistance, but also ongoing care and guidance throughout their new lives.

To empower Afghan refugees, we must advocate for programs focused on long-term stability and self-sufficiency. This creates an environment in which they can thrive and make an active contribution to their new communities.

Going forward, it is crucial to prioritize strategies that meet immediate needs and lay the foundation for lasting social integration.

Additionally, employment support is important to help them find a job that allows them to support themselves.