Mulakhil rushed out the back door of his house in Afghanistan on Aug. 14, 2021, as his country was on the brink of collapse. He heard his wife sobbing. His two-year-old son called out, “Papa, papa.”
Durani is an Afghan evacuee who was granted asylum due to the danger he would face if he returned to Afghanistan. Even though Durani put his life at risk while serving alongside the United States military as a high-ranking member of the Afghan air force, he is not eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa that would allow his family to join him in the U.S.
Durani, an Afghan immigrant who has been separated from his family for four years, prepares a blended protein drink in the kitchen of his Milwaukee apartment. Durani says he has been learning to cook by getting advice from his wife on video calls and by watching YouTube videos. He hopes to open an Afghan restaurant in the Milwaukee area.
Durani, left, a former member of the Afghan Air Force, works with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan before his country fell to Taliban rule. Durani was Deputy Commander of the Kabul Air Base, which he helped defend against Taliban attacks. The base was surrendered to the Taliban in 2021.
Durani shows a photograph of his brother, who worked for the Ministry of Defense in Afghanistan. Durani and his brother’s work supporting the U.S. and Afghan militaries made them Taliban targets.
Durani, an Afghan immigrant who served alongside the United States military as a high-ranking member of the Afghan air force, received military commendations for his work. He was evacuated from his home country as it fell to Taliban rule in 2021, but his wife and four young children have been unable to join him in Wisconsin due to problems with the family reunification process.
An engraving of the Arabic phrase, Mashallah, which means “what God has willed” and is used as an expression of joy, respect and thankfulness, hangs in Durani’s Milwaukee apartment.
Durani shows a photograph of his brother, who worked for the Ministry of Defense in Afghanistan. Durani and his brother’s work supporting the U.S. and Afghan militaries made them Taliban targets.
Durani, an Afghan immigrant who has been separated from his family for four years, prepares a blended protein drink in the kitchen of his Milwaukee apartment. Durani says he has been learning to cook by getting advice from his wife on video calls and by watching YouTube videos. He hopes to open an Afghan restaurant in the Milwaukee area.
Durani, left, a former member of the Afghan Air Force, works with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan before his country fell to Taliban rule. Durani was Deputy Commander of the Kabul Air Base, which he helped defend against Taliban attacks. The base was surrendered to the Taliban in 2021.
Durani is an Afghan evacuee who was granted asylum due to the danger he would face if he returned to Afghanistan. Even though Durani put his life at risk while serving alongside the United States military as a high-ranking member of the Afghan air force, he is not eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa that would allow his family to join him in the U.S.
Durani, an Afghan immigrant who served alongside the United States military as a high-ranking member of the Afghan air force, received military commendations for his work. He was evacuated from his home country as it fell to Taliban rule in 2021, but his wife and four young children have been unable to join him in Wisconsin due to problems with the family reunification process.
An engraving of the Arabic phrase, Mashallah, which means “what God has willed” and is used as an expression of joy, respect and thankfulness, hangs in Durani’s Milwaukee apartment.
