Student says she was living 'American Dream' before she was deported despite order

A 19-year old college student who was deported the week before Thanksgiving after a federal judge blocked her removal saidshe was handcuffedand later forced to sleep on the floor in a detention center.

"I burst into tears because I couldn't believe it, and spending the night there, sleeping on the floor," Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, speaking from Honduras, told ABC News in an exclusive interview.

Lopez Belloza, who entered the U.S. from Honduras with her family when she was 8 years old, was about to board her flight from Massachusetts to Texas last Friday to surprise her parents for the holiday when immigration authoritiesdetained her.

Lawyer says student who was removed despite a court order was 'deported in shackles'

"When they told me, 'You're going to come with us' ... I was like, 'Oh, I have a plane that I literally have to be there right now.' They're like, 'No, you're not even going to go on the plane,'" Lopez Belloza said.

The college freshman told ABC News that immigration officers declined to answer her repeated questions about why she was arrested and where she was going.

Court documents obtained by ABC News show that within hours of her detainment, a federal judge ordered the government not to remove Lopez Belloza from the U.S. and not to transfer her outside of Massachusetts.

But she was transferred that evening to a detention center in Texas and deported to Honduras the next day despite the court order.

"How does it feel to know that you were deported despite a judge saying that you should not be?" ABC News asked.

"It feels unfair," Lopez Belloza said. "If there was an order, then why did everything happen to me so fast, within three days?"

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told ABC News that Lopez Belloza had been issued an order for removal in 2015, but Lopez Belloza said she was surprised when authorities informed her of that.

"On November 20, CBP arrested Any Lopez-Belloza, an illegal alien from Honduras, as she was attempting to board a flight at Boston Logan International Airport," the DHS spokesperson said. "This illegal alien entered the country in 2014 and an immigration judge ordered her removed from the country in 2015, over 10 years ago. She has illegally stayed in the country since."

"Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to fly home for free and receive $1,000 stipend, while preserving the option to return the legal, right way," said the DHS spokesperson. "It's an easy choice leave voluntarily and receive $1,000 check or stay and wait till you are fined $1,000 day, arrested, and deported without a possibility to return legally."

19-year-old college student deported despite judge's order blocking her removal: Lawyer

Lopez Belloza told ABC News that her parents were not aware she was traveling to Texas for the holidays.

"They didn't know that I was at the airport," she said. "They didn't know nothing ... and I just thought ... now the surprise is going to be that I got arrested. It shouldn't have been this way."

"I feel like I made a mistake by me going to the airport ... I've never, lied to my parents in that kind of way," she said.

Lopez Belloza said this is her first time back in Honduras since her family fled the country more than a decade ago. She said her family thinks her deportation isn't fair because she has no criminal record and was "just focusing on her studies."

She told ABC News that she was living her American Dream.

"My parents, who they work so hard to be able to send me to college," she said. "And I got really good financial aid. I really got a good college that basically wanted me, and I wanted them."

"My dream was for me to be in college, fulfill not only mine but also my family dream ... for me to be in college, be one of the first ones in my family to be there," she said. "It was like ... wow ... I'm doing this. It's happening."

The 19-year-old was removed as part of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, under whichhalf a million migrantshave been deported and at least another 1.6 million have self-deported.

When asked by ABC News what her message would be to President Donald Trump, Lopez Belloza said, "Why is he getting people who are living in the United States working day and night, people, people like me, who are in college, doing their dreams, having an education?"

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

Student says she was living 'American Dream' before she was deported despite order

A 19-year old college student who was deported the week before Thanksgiving after a federal judge blocked her removal sai...

Read More

Texas oil worker jailed in one of Mexico’s most violent prisons after mistakenly crossing border

A Texas oil field worker has been detained in one of Mexico's most dangerous prisons for nine months after crossing the border in an "honest accident" — while his family pleads for his safe return.

Caden Hawkins, 23, has been locked up on weapons charges at Cereso Estatal No. 3 in Juarez since March 2, when he unknowingly crossed the border in Columbus, New Mexico, while trying to return home to Hallsville after a job, his heartbroken mother, April Thomas, toldKLTV.

Thomas said her son's GPS directed him to the US–Mexico border without him realizing it, and he didn't understand where he was until it was too late to turn around.

"I am on the phone with Caden, and he starts telling me the speed bumps are so bad in this town he's in and then the next thing you know he is telling me that he couldn't turn around. We hear men around him yelling in Spanish," Thomas said.

The 23-year-old oil field worker filmed the tense exchange on his phone moments before he was hauled away in handcuffs.

His mother later learned he was detained for having a pistol and ammunition with him — a firearm he was legally licensed to carry — and insists it was an "honest accident."

"My son is not a criminal," she said, insisting he "does not deserve this."

Hawkins' sister said her brother's detainment has been "one of the hardest things any of us has ever endured."

"To hear him on the phone sounding distraught has taken a toll on all of us," Haley Nicole Hawkins said.

Since his arrest, the family has spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to bring him home and is begging lawmakers to intervene.

"We need somebody that is more powerful than we are," Thomas said.

East Texas state Rep. Jay Dean claimed that Hawkins is being used as a "cash asset for a corrupt federal judge in Juarez, Mexico," and that his "family has been extorted for months."

Dean claimed Hawkins' family is being "forced to pay over $1,000 a week so Caden can have hot water, toilet paper, and semi-protection from violent inmates."

"This is absolutely unacceptable and we need to band together and force our federal government to BRING CADEN HOME," Dean wrote on Facebook.

Dean — who said he is "determined" to bring Hawkins home by Christmas — joined US Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in calling for federal intervention and urging the public to contact government offices,KETKreported.

Lawyers for Hawkins' family said his nine-month-old appeal may not be reviewed for up to two years and warned he could face a sentence of up to four years.

Cereso Estatal No. 3 is regarded as one of Mexico's most dangerous prisons, marked by violent riots, overcrowding, gang- and inmate-run hierarchies, and repeated security failures.

On New Year's Day 2023, the prison was rocked by a bloody riot orchestrated by the Los Mexicles gang, killing 10 guards and freeing around 30 inmates, theEl Paso Timesreported.

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

Texas oil worker jailed in one of Mexico’s most violent prisons after mistakenly crossing border

A Texas oil field worker has been detained in one of Mexico's most dangerous prisons for nine months after crossing the border in an ...

Read More

The FDA Just Added 9 More Pans To The Throwaway List As They May Contain 'Significant' Levels Of Lead

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an alert about imported cookware that may leach lead.

• There is no known safe level of exposure to lead, and it is considered especially unsafe for children.

• Experts recommend throwing away any of the 19 affected pots and pans. If you beleive you've been exposed, ask your healthcare provider about a blood test.

A wave of recent headlines suggests there might be lead in everything fromcinnamontoprotein powder, making it fair to be a little concerned about these claims—andwhere elsethe metal may be lurking.

Well, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued analertabout imported cookware that may leach lead. The FDA first released a warning back in August, but just added nine more pans to the list to create a current tally of 19 pans.

The FDA reported that this cookware "may leach significant levels of lead into food." Specifically, some types of imported cookware products made from aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloys known as Hindalium/Hindolium or Indalium/Indolium have been tested by the agency and state partners and found to have the potential to leach lead under typical cooking conditions. "Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk for potential adverse events after eating food cooked using these products," the FDA warned.

Meet the experts:Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, is a toxicologist at MedStar Health.Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

Even scarier: The FDA noted that other cookware products may also be impacted. Here's what you need to know about the affected products, plus how concerned toxicologists say you should be.

Which pans are impacted?

The FDA is warning consumers not to use the following pans:

• Sonex aluminum pot (Manufacturer: Sonex Cookware)

• IKM aluminum saucepan, size 2 with a 9" wooden handle (Manufacturer: JSM Foods)

• IKM 4-quarter pital brass pot (Manufacturer: JSM Foods)

• Brass tope (Manufacturer: Kraftwares)

• Aluminum kadai size 5 (Distributor: Lotus Mom)

• Silver Horse aluminum caldero 28

• Silver Horse aluminum degda 24

• Silver Horse aluminum degda 20

• Silver Horse kadai 26

• Silver Horse aluminum milk pan 4

• Chef Milk pan, 24 centimeters (Distributor: Shata Traders)

• Aluminum hammered kadai, size 7 (Distributor: Indian Cookware & Appliance)

• Brass pot (sold at Santos Agency)

• Dolphin brand aluminum saucepan

• 2-quart aluminum saucepan (Distributor: Win Chong Trading Corp.)

• 3-quart aluminum saucepan (Distributor: Win Chong Trading Corp.)

• Royal Kitchen cookware, milk pan size 3 (Distributor: New Reliance Traders)

• Tiger White kadai

• JK Vallabhdas aluminum kadai

Some of the brands that make these pans have already agreed to recall them, per the FDA. But the FDA also noted that some brands have been "notified" of the agency's findings—it just doesn't seem like they've pulled their products yet.

Why is this concerning?

It's important to keep this in mind: There is no known safe level of exposure to lead, according to theFDA. But lead exposure is considered especially unsafe for children due to their smaller bodies and ongoing development, saysJamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.

Lead exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental issues issues, including ADHD, for children, she explains. "The concern for adults is still there, but my main concern is exposure in children," Alan says. Exposure over time matters, too, since lead builds up in the body, Alan points out.

The cooking element of this is especially concerning toKelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a toxicologist at MedStar Health. "Heat associated with cooking processes will enhance the leaching of lead from the cookware into food," she says.

Is it OK to keep using these pans?

That's a hard no. The FDA recommended that you check the pans you have at home and throw out any cookware that made the list. (The FDA also says that you shouldn't donate it.)

Dr. Johnson-Arbor agrees that it's important to get rid of these pots and pans. "People who have this cookware should definitely throw it out, since there is no good way for consumers to remove the lead from the cookware themselves," she says.

If you've used this cookware and you're concerned about your lead exposure, talk to a healthcare provider. They should be able to test your lead levels to see where you stand.

You Might Also Like

• Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream

• These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

The FDA Just Added 9 More Pans To The Throwaway List As They May Contain 'Significant' Levels Of Lead

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The Food and Drug Administration ...

Read More

Ole Miss players, AD dispute Lane Kiffin's exit account

Lane Kiffin's version of the events coinciding with his exit from Ole Miss don't match those of the people he left behind.

Rebels players and Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter gave differing accounts to Kiffin's description of his departure from Oxford, Miss., to become LSU's head coach.

Even with No. 6 Ole Miss a lock to be included in the upcoming College Football Playoff, the Ole Miss administration ousted Kiffin on Saturday as soon as he revealed his intention to take the LSU job.

Kiffin wrote on social media that the Rebels players asked Carter "to allow me to keep coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance."

Referencing Kiffin reportedly telling the Ole Miss players he wanted to stay on for the CFP, Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins tweeted, "That was not the message you said in the meeting room. Everybody that was in there can vouch on this."

Ole Miss offensive lineman Brycen Sanders tweeted, quoting Kiffin's statement, "'Despite the team asking me to keep coaching'. I think everyone that was in that room would disagree"

Rebels offensive lineman Paris Wilkins replied to Sanders' post, writing, "Fax this was not said from anyone!!"

Carter, in a Wednesday interview with SuperTalk Mississippi, added that Kiffin said "a lot of things publicly that I'm not sure are totally accurate."

Kiffin maintained that he didn't know he wouldn't be allowed to coach Ole Miss in the CFP until Sunday. However, Carter said, "It was very clear that coaching in the postseason was not going to be an option for Coach Kiffin several weeks ago."

Regarding Kiffin's meeting with his now-former players, Carter said, "I don't think the way he portrayed that meeting was accurate. There was a lot of pushback to him leaving. ... Begging for him to stay is certainly an overstatement, and our players are starting to show what really happened in that meeting."

The Rebels (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) set a school record for regular-season victories this year. They have won five in a row since taking their lone loss at then-No. 9 Georgia on Oct. 18.

--Field Level Media

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

Ole Miss players, AD dispute Lane Kiffin's exit account

Lane Kiffin's version of the events coinciding with his exit from Ole Miss don't match those of the people he ...

Read More

It’s getting close to crunch time in the NFL season. Here are 5 things to watch from a loaded Week 14

Week 14 of theNFLseason is here, and suddenly everything feels a little heavier.

For some teams, it's win or wave goodbye to the playoffs. For others, it's a chance to grab hold of their destiny before the calendar flips to crunch time.

Either way, the stakes are real — and rising fast.

Here are five things to know heading into a loaded Week 14:

Chiefs' last stand

If the postseason started today, the Chiefs wouldn't just miss the playoffs – they wouldn't even be close. At 6-6, Kansas City sits 10th in the AFC, trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6), Houston Texans (7-5) and Buffalo Bills (8-4) for the final wild card spot.

Sunday night against Houston is as close to a "must-win" as the Patrick Mahomes era has seen. A loss drops the Chiefs to 6-7 and hands the Texans the head-to-head tiebreaker. Kansas City has already lost tiebreakers to the Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, so the margin for error is basically gone.

And this isn't great timing for a must win if you're KC. Houston's defense – powered by Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. – ranks No. 1 in yards allowed and points allowed per game. The Texans don't just stop you. They smother you.

Can Mahomes muster enough magic for one last stand? The Chiefs have reached at least the AFC championship game every year he's been the starter. The last time Kansas City missed the playoffs was 2015.

The dynasty's back is officially against the wall.

AFC South showdown

The Indianapolis Colts opened the season red hot at 8-1. Now? They've dropped three of four and are watching the division slip through their fingers. A loss Sunday to Jacksonville could knock Indy out of first place and potentially out of the playoff picture entirely if the Texans win.

Quarterback Daniel Jones is still battling through a fractured fibula but plans to play. But how well will Jones be able to move around? His mobility was a big reason for the Colts' hot start.

For the Jaguars, this is one of the biggest home games in recent memory. A win puts them firmly in control of the AFC South before a Christmas-week rematch in Indianapolis. Jacksonville has only won the division twice in its history: 2017 and 2022.

Bears vs. Packers: A rivalry with extra spice

When the Bears and Green Bay Packers renew their rivalry Sunday at Lambeau Field, Chicago has a chance to make history.

In more than a century of battles, the Bears have never won at Lambeau twice in the same calendar year; Chicago beat the Packers on January 5 to end last season.

Green Bay leads the all-time series 107-95-6, but this meeting comes with even more on the line: first place in the NFC North.

The Bears enter on their first five-game winning streak since 2018, and Ben Johnson's debut season could not be going better. Chicago hasn't felt this energized since the team's Super Bowl run nearly two decades ago.

The Packers, meanwhile, are rested and riding momentum after a 31-24 Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions. These two teams will be sick of each other by Christmas – Sunday is the first of two matchups in the next three weeks.

Burrow's Bengals are back (maybe)

Joe Burrow returned last week for the first time since his Week 2 toe injury – and immediately delivered a shocker, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a 32-14 Thanksgiving night upset of the Baltimore Ravens.

Because the AFC North is currently the worst division in football – no team has a winning record – the 4-8 Bengals are somehow still alive. Barely. To make the playoffs, Cincinnati likely needs to run the table.

That starts with their toughest remaining test: a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. After that, the schedule softens – Ravens at home, then the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns.

It's been a chaotic season in Cincy, but if Burrow rattles off six straight to get the Bengals to 9-8 and into the postseason, it'll be one of the wildest turnarounds in recent memory.

Ravens vs. Steelers: Old rivals, new questions

The Ravens and Steelers enter Sunday deadlocked at 6-6 and locked in what feels like a season-defining showdown in the AFC North.

Steelers fans weren't shy about their frustrations last week, booing the team off the field after a 26-7 loss to the Bills – Pittsburgh's fifth defeat in the past seven games. Mike Tomlin didn't dodge it, saying he agreed with the fans and the team "has to play better."

Aaron Rodgers turned 42 this week, and the hits he took on Sunday made him look every bit of it. He's dealing with an injured non-throwing wrist, and over his past three games he's totaled just 394 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Is a late-season Rodgers revival still possible? The Steelers desperately need one. Otherwise, their season – and maybe the division – could slip away in Baltimore.

Ravens fans, meanwhile, are still trying to figure out what's going on with Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP threw just one touchdown in the entire month of November and never looked fully comfortable. Is he more banged up than the team is letting on?

Baltimore will need a vintage Lamar performance if the Ravens want to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday and keep the Bengals at arm's length in the AFC North.

Full Week 14 schedule

Away @ home

Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET

Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET

Washington Commanders @ Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Cincinnati Bengals @ Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET

Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET

Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Eagles @ Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

It’s getting close to crunch time in the NFL season. Here are 5 things to watch from a loaded Week 14

Week 14 of theNFLseason is here, and suddenly everything feels a little heavier. For some teams, it's win or wave goodbye to the playo...

Read More

Clippers' James Harden, Kawhi Leonard stunned by Chris Paul departure

Many were surprised when theLos Angeles Clippersannounced that Chris Paul was no longer with the team, including his teammates James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, who expressed surprise at learning Paul had been sent home.

TheClippers decided to part ways with Paulafter a reported three-hour discussion between Lawrence Frank, the president of basketball operations, and Paul at the team hotel in Atlanta before their game against the Hawks on Wednesday.

Frank emphasized that the decision to let Paul go was not due to a single incident; however,ESPN reportedthat the ongoing tension between Paul andhead coach Ty Luehas been cited as a potential significant contributing factor, given how disruptive the relationship has been to the team.

"I'm just as confused and shocked as everyone else in the world," Harden said after the Clippersdefeated the Hawkson Wednesday, Nov. 3. "It definitely took me by surprise. It's not just about Chris; there were many things we were dealing with. However, that's out of my hands. I need to focus on what I can control. I suppose the front office believed that was the best decision for the organization."

See highlights from Chris Paul's NBA career

More:Why are Clippers cutting ties with All-Star Chris Paul? What we know

"It was shocking to me," Leonard said. "I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision."

Paulannouncedon social media earlier this monththat he would retirefrom the NBA after 21 seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:James Harden and Kawhi Leonard shocked by Chris Paul's departure

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

Clippers' James Harden, Kawhi Leonard stunned by Chris Paul departure

Many were surprised when theLos Angeles Clippersannounced that Chris Paul was no longer with the team, including his team...

Read More

U.S. Green Berets rush to defend their Afghan counterparts after D.C. shooting

In the days and months after the U.S. military'schaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Thomas Kasza and some of his fellow Special Forces members focused their attention on the Afghans who had fought alongside them.

These Afghans who risked their lives for the U.S. wereprime targets of the Taliban. Remaining in their homeland was akin to a death sentence.

"Given how they served exclusively alongside U.S. Green Berets, they were by default among those highest on Taliban target lists," said Kasza, who was one of many military veterans who assisted their former Afghan counterparts in leaving the country and resettling in the U.S.

After theshooting of two National Guard membersnear the White House last week, Kasza and other U.S. war veterans find themselves having to come to the defense of their former Afghan partners yet again.

An Afghan who worked witha CIA-trained military unithas been charged in the attack, which killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolfe, 24.

The Trump administration immediately moved tocrack down on Afghansin the U.S., pausing asylum decisions and halting the issuing of visas.

President Donald Trump said last week that many of the Afghans who came to this country "are criminals" who "shouldn't be here." CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the suspect "and so many othersshould have never been allowedto come here."

Those kinds of sentiments haven't gone over well with Army Special Forces veterans, known as Green Berets, and others who worked closely with Afghans during the war.

"It is definitely not fair to group all Afghans that helped us during our time in Afghanistan in that same basket as this individual," said Ben Hoffman, a Green Beret with five deployments to Afghanistan.

Another Green Beret, Dave Elliott, said many of the Afghans he is in touch with are now "terrified" over their fates in the U.S.

"They're fearful they're going to be sent back to a country where we have had documented cases of our guys being killed in retribution attacks," said Elliott, who started a nonprofit organization with Kasza called the 1208 Foundation, which supports Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war.

The Green Berets worked with a specially trained unit of Afghans who would go out in front of the Americans on missions to identify and disable improvised explosive devices, a highly dangerous job that resulted in dozens' being killed. Other Afghans who came to this country after their government collapsed in 2021 worked with U.S. forces as interpreters and drivers and in other roles.

"These guys didn't want to leave Afghanistan," Elliott said. "They left Afghanistan because the U.S. broke it and handed it back to the Taliban and they had no other choice."

The Green Berets and other war veterans interviewed by NBC News didn't work directly with the shooting suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, but wanted to speak out in support of the Afghans who fled to this country after assisting U.S. forces.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration "has been taking every measure possible — in the face of unrelenting Democrat opposition — to get anyone who poses a threat to the American people out of our country and clean up the mess made by the Biden Administration."

Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and other offenses. Authorities haven't released information about a potential motive. Lakanwal, who lived in Washington state with his wife and five children, had reportedly been struggling to feed his family and wassuffering from mental health issues.

Geeta Bakshi, a former CIA officer who served in Afghanistan, said that her former Afghan colleagues are distraught that one of their countrymen is accused of having attacked Americans and that the entire community of Afghan veterans could be tarnished by the shooter's horrific actions.

Bakshi said she and other Americans forged a special bond with their Afghan allies during the war, sharing the same dangers and working in common cause to track down Al Qaeda and other extremists.

"They put their necks on the line to support us," said Bakshi, who runs FAMIL, a nonprofit organization that assists Afghans who worked under CIA command in what were known as Zero Units. "We were going after hard terrorist targets, and these were the guys and gals that made it happen. We could not have achieved our many counterterrorism successes without them. People don't realize these folks bore a huge risk by doing what they did."

Even before the shooting and the Trump administration actions, many Afghans who settled in this country werealready struggling to find jobswhile trapped in a legal limbo without work permits. Lakanwal and many others who worked directly with the U.S. forces or the government came into the country through a temporary program the Biden administration set up to manage the flow of Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.

Many were still waiting for their visa applications to be approved or their asylum requests to be granted, enabling them to work legally. Both of those legal pathways have now been shut off.

The moves are likely to increase the strain on the former U.S. military allies, according to Green Berets and other advocates for them. They noted that many of the Afghans experienced several years of war and are now living in an unfamiliar country where they don't have access to the mental health resources afforded to U.S. military veterans.

"A lot of these guys have a lot of the PTSD struggles that we do, and even way worse," Hoffman said. "And there's no way for them to get help except out of pocket, which is not easy for them when they're just working to put food on the table and a roof over their kids' heads."

The Afghans fighting with U.S. forces lost comrades and family members and suffered grievous wounds, both physical and emotional, according to Bakshi, the former CIA officer.

"You have to consider invisible scars from the war and how that can affect people," she said. "We know that. We've seen it. We've seen it with veterans. We've seen it with veteran suicides."

"Some of these guys were in combat 365 days a year, for five or 10 or 20 years," she added. "They face many of the same difficulties as veterans do, and they don't have the resources and the support that veterans do."

Kasza said he worries about how the treatment of Afghans in this country might affect future military operations overseas.

"Green Berets are built to operate with and through a host-nation partner," he said. "If the future partner of a Special Forces detachment sees America so willing to renege on promises made, how likely is it that they will be willing to put their lives on the line to aid in advancing the interest of another nation that will readily ignore their sacrifice?"

byAdministrator

in

December 04, 2025

U.S. Green Berets rush to defend their Afghan counterparts after D.C. shooting

In the days and months after the U.S. military'schaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Thomas Kasza and some of his fellow Special Forces...

Read More