In 2021, the Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic militia, recaptured power in Afghanistan. As a result, approximately 76,000  Afghan individuals repopulated to the United States. Roughly 3,000 of them were re-homed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

Afghan refugees are provided with many social services upon their arrival; however, a critical question remains: are these services enough for all Afghan refugees adapting to new lives?

Resettlement Agencies

When refugees arrive in the U.S., a resettlement agency meets them at the airport. They are then transported to temporary housing — be it a hotel, apartment, or homeless shelter, depending on availability and circumstances. The agency is responsible for their immediate care and transition.

Upon arrival, the resettlement agency offers families or individuals a choice of a matching grant or a monetary allotment.

A matching grant provides the refugees with housing, utilities, food, transportation, medical care, English language training, etc.

On the other hand, the allotment of money is a set amount per adult, which allows them the freedom to allocate resources as they see fit. While the flexibility can be beneficial, it may also be difficult to navigate a complex change entirely on the refugees themselves.

“When you get that job, they just cut all your support, and it’s not fair because as I see, there is not a permanent job for refugees,” Ms. Mashal, an Afghan refugee said. Mashal is currently in a situation where she had a set contract with a steady income, so the agency cut her support. Now that her contract has ended, she finds herself in a bind.

“Refugee resettlement agencies face a tall task: serving more refugees on tighter budgets, with the same expectations for success,” according to Scholars Strategy Network. 

The Afghan unemployment rate is increasing, so organizations must work toward a system that enhances the importance of long-term career goals and, ultimately, financial freedom. 

Employment Challenges

Mentoring is not always an easy task, especially when mentees hit unfair bumps that would not have happened if they were not refugees. 

“When Hasan arrived, I knew he had a lot of potential,” Mark Freeman, a mentor to Afghan refugees, said.

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

Hasan Qurbani is an Afghan refugee Freeman guided through his transformation into his new life in the United States. Qurbani had multiple jobs, but Freeman always felt “short-term gains would not be valuable for Hasan because he had greater potential with his masters in IT.” 

There were multiple situations involving jobs where Hasan was treated poorly. In a specific example, a firm took advantage of him by “throwing him into a highly complex situation and then having him alone when his colleague took a vacation. They let him go once the colleague returned from vacation,” Freeman said. “I told Hasan it was really wrong what they did to him.” Hasan was taken advantage of and used as a temporary placeholder for a coworker when he was in need of a career. 

The transition into the workforce presents its own set of challenges. 

The education system in Afghanistan is different from the United States. So, when a person from Afghanistan gets their degree before relocating, it will not always be valid in the States. Luckily, this was not the case for Hasan.

“Finding a job is the hard part,” Mashal said. Most jobs in the states require specific qualifications or a higher level of education that refugees may lack. Consequently, this makes their journey toward independence more challenging. 

There is also the issue of a language barrier. Since most Afghans do not speak English as their first language, the job search can become even more slim. Therefore, jobs that do not require much communication are the jobs being applied for. 

Coordination of Agencies

The Texas Office for Refugees is a system in charge of coordinating the state’s refugee services.

“The goal of TXOR is to build capacity and develop resource-based stakeholder relationships with state and federal leaders to elevate and advocate for the work of partners and outcomes of refugee clients,” according to The Texas Office of Refugees.

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

Additional Assistance

Once refugees have settled into their temporary homes, they will then apply for Medicaid and food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These programs play a vital role in alleviating financial stress and ensuring that basic needs are met.

Medicaid provides “health coverage for low-income children, families, seniors and people with disabilities,” according to 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 essential support as refugees navigate challenges in their new country.

Non-federal Refugee Assistance

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, refugee programs often come from non-profits, Catholic churches and local mosques.

These types of services provide more need-based help and connect refugees with fellow members of their community. 

It is difficult for refugees to get connected with these programs because “having a program is not a problem, but knowing how to access those programs is very important. Without guidance, the people don’t know, which makes it harder for them to figure out how to take advantage,” stated the Afghan Refugee Mentorship Program. 

The resettlement agencies are usually the key to connecting the refugees with the programs.

Non-profit support helps enroll children in school, assist adults in job searches and provide medical care for trauma or illness.

“Psychosocial support services are very important for refugees who have fled very difficult circumstances,” Devon Cone, senior advocate at Refugees International, said

Mashal said churches and mosques helped provide a tremendous support to her and her family.

“I received help from both without considering my religion or 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.

Conclusion

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

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

These programs actively alleviate financial stress and ensure that basic needs are met. The voices of these individuals show how important community support and access to resources are.

Successful integration into the States requires not just immediate help but also ongoing mentorship and guidance throughout their new lives. 

To empower Afghan refugees, we need to advocate for programs that focus on long-term stability and self-sufficiency. This will create an environment where they can thrive and actively contribute to their new communities.

Moving forward, it is crucial to prioritize strategies that meet immediate needs and lay the groundwork for lasting societal integration.

Also, employment support is important to help them find jobs that allow them to be self-sufficient.