Afghan soldiers stood beside American troops for 20 years. Now, five years after the evacuation, many still don't know if they'll be allowed to stay. On this episode, we take stock of what's happened since roughly one thousand Afghans resettled in Iowa. We talk with Fatima Saidi, national director of We Are All America and Robyn Barnard of Human Rights First. We also discuss what today's shifting immigration rules mean for Afghans still in limbo. Then, we talk with Cate Dicharry, the new director of the University of Iowa's International Writing Program. It’s been a year and a half since federal funding cuts threatened the program, and we discuss what its future holds.
Photo Courtesy Of Martha Hulshof
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Refugees in Iowa are learning they are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits. The federal government has ordered states to start enforcing a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill that cuts off food assistance for refugees and many other types of immigrants with legal status. -
Fifty years after resettling in Iowa, younger generations of Iowa's Tai Dam community are looking to strengthen their ties to their heritage. -
Vinh Nguyen has lived in Iowa for decades, but he grew up in Vietnam during the war, which ended April 30, 1975.
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Staff members at Lutheran Services in Iowa were concerned that refugees would become homeless after federal funding cuts. But community donations filled the gap. -
A look at this week's headlines in Iowa, including a conversation with a Bosnian American for World Refugee Day.
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An update from a retired Green Beret from Ottumwa on his efforts to help his former Afghan Special Forces counterpart. Then, what the travel ban means for Afghan refugees.
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Remembering Iowa's decision to welcome southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam war, and a look at their legacy in the state.
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Global Greens helps former refugee and immigrant farmers grow and sell food in Iowa. With federal funding freezes, cuts and uncertainty, staff are exploring new ways to bring in dollars. -
In April 1975, Marine pilot John Morgan received orders to fly his helicopter to Vietnam and help evacuate people after the war. It ended up being the largest helicopter evacuation in history — and a defining moment in his life as an American.
