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Janis Shinwari, center, visits U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter’s Capitol office on Nov. 13. Recently, Shinwari was granted a Special Immigrant Visa after Slaughter wrote to the U.S. State Department requesting such a visa. Shinwari served as an interpreter for U.S. forces in his native Afghanistan. Slaughter is at left, and at right is Rochester native Capt. Matt Zeller, who said Shinwari saved his life during a firefight in Afghanistan in 2008. Courtesy Rep. Louise Slaughter’s Office
U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter got a special visit last week when Rochester native Army Capt. Matt Zeller stopped by her Washington, D.C., office with the Afghan interpreter who saved his life during a firefight.
Janis Shinwari, the interpreter, aided U.S. forces during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and was targeted by the Taliban. Slaughter and Zeller worked with Under Secretary of State Patrick F. Kennedy to help secure safe passage to the United States for Shinwari and his family.
Slaughter said after years of brave service, Shinwari applied for and was granted a “Special Immigrant Visa,” which is offered to Afghan and Iraqi interpreters who provide at least one year of military service to the United States. She notes NPR recently reported Shinwari was “marked for death by Taliban insurgents, and waiting for a U.S. visa.”
Working with Zeller and Kennedy, Slaughter lobbied the State Department to quickly consider the Visa request and sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to expedite the request.
“Janis risked his life to save the lives of American soldiers and he deserves a hero’s welcome from the country he aided for over seven years,” Slaughter said. “Instead of being harassed by the Taliban and forced into hiding, Janis and his family will be able to live in freedom and peace in the U.S. Instead of being taught to carry guns, his children will attend kindergarten and carry pencils and paper.”
Shinwari arrived on Oct. 30 at Reagan National Airport in Washington, saying he felt “very happy” he finally made it to the United States, which he now calls home.
“I got my last member of my unit home,” Zeller said. “I can breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in five years. I got my buddy home.”
