When Donald Trump issued his immigration Executive Order, veterans organizations like No One Left Behind were frustrated to see that Iraqi and Afghan wartime allies like interpreters and translators who served next to our troops on the ground were included in the ban. 

No One Left Behind launched a petition on Change.org that quickly gained over 40,000 petition signatures and for five days they organized and joined protests to ask the Trump Administration to make sure that translators were exempt from the ban.

They listened. Last week, the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) became exempt.

According to the New York Times:

The Trump administration amended its visa ban on Thursday to allow emigration by the families of Iraqi interpreters who served the United States government and military forces deployed in their country.

The change, recommended by the Pentagon, eased some of the anger generated in Iraq by President Trump’s executive order imposing the ban, which has stoked anxiety and confusion around much of the world since it was issued last week.

The SIV process can be long and confusing and many translators and their families wait for years to be approved — all while living under threat from groups like ISIS and the Taliban because they helped U.S troops. Now that translators with approved SIVs can come to the United States, No One Left Behind needs to raise $25,000 to help them with housing, furniture, food, and job placements so these families can get on their feet quickly. Click here to help.

Watch this powerful video to learn more about No One Left Behind’s mission and work: