San Diego (AP) —Afghan men attend a conference in California as part of his work for a U.S. government-funded project in Afghanistan when the Taliban sent a written threat to his home. He forced him to make a tragic decision: he did not return to his wife and two little sons, but instead tried to take them to the United States in search of asylum.

Two years later, Mohammad said he regretted leaving them, hoping he had never worked for the US government, given the price he paid.

His wife collapsed in 2020 when Mohammad tried to obtain a visa for his family and died of a heart attack while the Taliban threatened them. Mohammad, who lives in California, has been fighting since then to reunite with his 9- and 11-year-old sons, living in hiding with his grandmother and uncle, and moving from home to home, he says. rice field. He asked to use only his name to protect them.

On Thursday, an international refugee assistance project in which a lawyer is working on his behalf sued Secretary of State Antony Birken in a federal court in San Francisco, alleging that the government failed to meet its legal obligations under the Afghan Alliance Protection Act. Woke up. Even though his family worked for the US government during the 20 years of war there.

“I only want one hug,” Mohammad said.

Mohammad said he has repeatedly sought help from the US government. He contacted the State Department in August after a bullet stabbed into the house where his sons were hiding before the Taliban ruled the country. He sought refuge from the children as the U.S. military carried out the largest airlift in history, but they were left behind.

The State Department did not immediately respond to the request for comment.

Mohammad keeps in touch with his sons daily by phone or text.

His youngest cried, “Dad, are they going to kill me?”

“What should I say?” Mohammad asks.

He sent another letter to the State Department on September 9, asking his son to allow humanitarian parole, but again said he had not responded. He also contacted his California lawmaker.

Mohammad was approved for a special immigrant visa in January and applied to his son the following month, demanding a faster visa application because he was at “imminent risk”. Their application is still pending.

The proceedings state that “taking their children away from Afghanistan, where they are at risk every day, and reuniting them with their only remaining parents is essential to their survival and well-being.” increase.

“At this point, the government knew that these children were in serious danger alone, and had not taken steps to protect them, since at least mid-August,” New York said. Alexandra Zaretsky, a lawyer for international refugee assistance based in Japan, said. plan.

According to Zaretzky, Mohammad was one of the thousands of Afghan people who worked for the US government in Afghanistan and was forced to leave relatives behind to ensure safety. Many are still fighting to meet them again. According to the proceedings, a month after the U.S. withdrew its troops, the government has not yet provided figures on how many special immigrant visa applicants and their families are stuck in Afghanistan, No substantive action has been taken to protect it.

Mohammad said his work in promoting women’s rights in Afghanistan for a US government-funded program is worthwhile, even though many of these advances could disappear under the new Taliban government. He said he wanted his sons to know that.

He also said he wanted them to see “for my faithful service to the United States.” They have the opportunity to come to a good country like the United States where “your future is guaranteed” and they “good education and the rights that other people should have.”

He has lost confidence in his words, but tries to encourage them not to give up.

“I give them hope whenever I talk to them, but I also think.” But is this even possible? Will they ever meet me again here? “He said.