The June 12 Friday Update contained outdated information about the status of our project. It stated: “We are now working with the U.S. State Department’s Welcome Corps and other partners to sponsor a refugee family from Latin America or the Caribbean.” This was where our project stood prior to the Trump administration taking office the second time.
We apologize for the confusion but, on a positive note, that bit of history relates to how we came to sponsor the four-member Ahmad Zai family. Back in January 2025, our team was working on sponsoring a Nicaraguan family. The U.S. Department of State had approved their admission to the U.S. as permanent residents under the Refugee Admission Program. Their travel to Minneapolis had been arranged. But then the new administration took office and abruptly cancelled travel for most refugees approved for admission. And, it stated that their cases would be subject to re-review.
However, a program for Iraqi and Afghani allies was left in place and thousands were living outside their home countries waiting. All they needed were sponsors. So, a refugee resettlement agency we worked with asked us if we could change our plans and sponsor an Afghani family. And, at the end of February 2025, we were meeting the four members of the Ahmad Zai family at MSP (see photo).
The Ahmad Zai family consists of Aziz (dad) and Saleha (mom) and a 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son. Aziz worked in Kabul as a security guard for a U.S. contractor, protecting American consultants to the Afghani government on various nation building projects. With the Taliban takeover following the U.S. withdrawal, the family was forced into exile in Pakistan.
Today the family is largely living independently thanks to our FUS team consisting of Barb Lutz, Marcy Leussler, Mary Ann Lundquist, Sue Tincher, Becca Brackett, Bob Aderhold, and two non-FUS volunteers. But a few of us continue to be fairly involved with them.
Our first steps in getting the family settled in were to get them into permanent rental housing in the Southdale area. It took three moves to get this done. We found them donated furniture, helped them move in, connected them with SNAP and Medical Assistance programs through Hennepin County, acquainted them with public transportation, enrolled the kids in Edina schools and set them up with summer activities.
Through a temp agency, despite meager English, Aziz was dispatched him to a second shift food packaging job making $20/hour. He proved to be a solid worker and, a few weeks ago, was hired into a permanent job by the company he temped for.
We worked with several social service agencies to get all of this done. They were key in connecting us to key grants need to support the family until they could find employment. Sponsor team members raised the balance of the $8,000 needed for these initial months through their own donations and those of friends, FUS members and the FUS foundation.
Saleha, the mom, hopes to eventually get back into the medical lab technician work she performed in Kabul. To do this, she is enrolled in language classes at the South Metro Adult Basic Education program to raise her English level to a sufficiently advanced level. Afterwards, she plans to enroll in a phlebotomy training program and start earning money.
The Ahmad Zai family is extremely grateful for everything our team has been doing for them and we find that very satisfying. It is also fun to see them integrate into the community, connect with the Afghani diaspora living here in MN. It’s great to see their kids find community with their classmates and immigrant neighbors in the building where they live. Many of us have become quite close to this family.
For further background on the project, go to the project webpage.