Afghan translators land in US, say US leaving others behind who face death threats from Taliban

Cheers erupted at Dulles International Airport outside Washington D.C. as an Afghan combat translator, his wife and four young children arrived at the baggage carousel after a harrowing three and a half year wait for a Special Immigrant Visa after risking his life working for the U.S. military and facing death threats from the Taliban as U.S. troops hasten their withdrawal.

Fearful the Taliban will target his family back in Afghanistan he asked that Fox News refer to him by a pseudonym: Sediq. He received his SIV visa on May 27 – one of the few that the State Department has approved despite the 18,000 Afghans who have provided the documentation that they worked for the U.S. government and are still waiting. Visa approval has slowed to a trickle despite promises from State Department officials to expedite them. Asked if he is worried about those left behind, Sediq answered, "Of course. Of course. We hope that they should not get forgotten and they should get fully supported and they should receive their visa like me, and they should come to the United States and start a better life."