In mid-July, former interpreter “Jack” (name changed for security reasons) flew to his home country of Afghanistan to help bring his family to the United States.
A legal permanent resident of the U.S., Jack became stuck in Afghanistan after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in August. Confined to his family’s home, Jack soon drained his life savings to support his father, brothers, wife, and children and could not make payments for the vehicle that is the source of his income as an Uber driver.
Between 2011 and 2016, Jack survived three IED attacks while working as an interpreter with the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. In 2016, while training Afghan National Army soldiers with U.S. Special Forces, the ANA officer survived a suicide attack that killed over a dozen ANA and U.S. military personnel, including Jack’s best friend. Repeated exposure to explosions caused permanent damage to Jack’s hearing, limiting his employment opportunities when he arrived in the U.S. nearly six years ago. Driving for Uber allowed Jack to send money back to his family, no longer able to work due to the Taliban takeover.
Wells Fargo repossessed Jack’s vehicle on Oct. 28.
Unaware of his specific challenges, the bank initially rejected offers to pay off Jack’s vehicle or cover his reinstatement fees from nonprofit organization Flanders Fields, which provides funds for Operation North Star and Task Force Argo in support of Afghan allies and at-risk persons stuck in Afghanistan. Wells Fargo required a notarized letter from Jack allowing unauthorized persons to retrieve the vehicle. If not retrieved, the car would be considered abandoned on Nov. 23 and would soon go to auction.
Since the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan ceased operations on Aug. 31, legal permanent residents must travel outside the country for notary services. Passing through multiple Taliban checkpoints and crossing the border would be a possible death sentence because Jack is known to the Taliban, who have broken into his home twice. In 2013, fighters also stabbed his brother in retaliation for Jack’s work with the U.S.
Resolution for Jack’s dilemma came after a social media plea from Flanders Fields’s president, Ben Owen, garnered the attention of senior Wells Fargo employees. Owen reports that Wells Fargo’s executives have been keen to assist Jack and Flanders Fields. As of this afternoon, the bank has secured Jack’s car and will hold it until he returns to the country.
Owen tells me he is “quite pleased with [Wells Fargo’s] response time” but notes that “this is yet another example of unforeseen consequences of this poorly executed withdrawal, and of inflexible policy and legislation in the U.S.”
Unlike Wells Fargo, the U.S. government has been less than agile in resolving the considerable suffering left in the wake of its exit from Afghanistan. One burden has been removed from Jack’s shoulders, but he and thousands of Afghans continue to live in danger of Taliban reprisals.
Beth Bailey (@BWBailey85) is a freelance writer from the Detroit area.
