An Afghan Interpreter, Detained

The other day, an Uber driver told me his harrowing story. I share it here. We talked for about 40 minutes.

The narrative below smoothes out a conversation that jumped around, but the words are his. I have not verified his words, but living in America today, I don’t doubt them.

***

I am from Afghanistan. I worked with the US Army starting in 2004. I began as a translator and then became a local advisor. I knew a little English when I started and learned on the job. I did it for my family and my country.

In August 2021 the Army called one night and said the Taliban was coming and we had to leave. People knew who I was, and if we did not leave, I would be tortured and killed. They said go to the airport. We spent five days nearby before we could get out on a military transport. We stayed in Qatar for a while and then came to the United States in 2022.

My job is driving an Uber. Today I am driving from 4am to 11am and then from 1pm to 6pm.

About a month ago I was driving near U Street. Three or four men in vehicles stopped me. They were going after the Uber Eats drivers on scooters too. People who looked foreign. They were wearing masks.

They demanded my papers. I gave them my license, registration, and immigration papers. Uber makes me have license and registration and now I carry my green card.

They said, you have to come with us and go to detention.

I said, Why?

They said I had to go.

I asked again, Why? There is nothing wrong with my car. My papers are in order.

They said, Call your lawyer.

I said, I do not have a lawyer.

They said, you must come.

There was a lady in my car. About 45 years old. She said, Why are you taking him? What did he do? She knew how to talk to them. She was probably a lawyer.

They said to her, Go away. This is not your concern.

She said, I am not going away.

I told her she could go.

She said, I am not going to let them do to this to you.

She got out of the car and started arguing with them. They pushed her against the car. She called the police. A police officer came. She said, They pushed me.

The police officer called his supervisor. His supervisor came. He was able to calm down the situation.

He told the ICE agents to give me back my papers. They gave me back my papers. They left.

I believe they left because she was complaining to the police that she was pushed.

***

I have 5 children, ages 8 to 18. We live [about an hour outside DC]. My oldest daughter just started at [community college] and is studying cybersecurity. My next youngest girls want to be a doctor and a lawyer.

I am just able to pay the bills. I cannot save $20. I work 60, 70, 80 hours a week. We go out for dinner maybe once every three months.

My family has Medicaid. I understand maybe they take that away. [In fact, H.R. 1 did take away his Medicaid. His family will lose Medicaid on October 1, 2026.] Thank God my family is healthy.

We want to pay off for this country what this country did for us. If I was in Afghanistan my daughters couldn’t go to school. Here they go.

I go to the mosque once every week, on Fridays. It is safe. I am not a very religious person but my religion teaches me what is in every religion. Be honest. Treat other people with respect.

Every immigrant is scared. We are human at the end of the day. We are here to work, to survive, to raise good kids to pay off for this country what this country gives.

***

I gave him some cash and the promise I’d share his story. For my country that put you through this, I said, I am ashamed.

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