Five years after the Afghan evacuation, thousands have built careers and businesses

In mid-August five years ago, tens of thousands of Afghans were airlifted out of Afghanistan. Many were brought to U.S. cities like Sacramento, Houston, and Washington, D.C. where they started new jobs, businesses, and careers.

After arriving alone in the U.S., Sodaba Khinjani, who was evacuated from Afghanistan, started studying to become a dental assistant.

“It was really, really hard, because every night I was spending five hours to study, and every morning I was need to go to work. And I was earning money, and I was sending it back home to my family,” she said. “But I did it.”

Now, she’s head assistant at a dental clinic in Houston. She’s one of thousands of Afghans who have built careers in the U.S. in the last five years. Some have opened new businesses.

“After August of 2021, you still have a lot of markets, grocery stores, and restaurants, but we see a growth of more professional businesses too — more like technical,” said Mustafa Babak with the Afghan-American Foundation. “So we see a lot of mechanics, law offices.”

Despite all they’ve built, Babak said there’s still economic hardship. “Many remain underemployed and legally insecure.”

Trump administration immigration policies have added uncertainty.

“Decisions about immigration status also impact work authorization and professional licensing, and that really determines whether people can work,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, which has resettled thousands of Afghans.

She added that it also adds uncertainty for U.S. employers.