Queens Man, Family Stranded After Fleeing Kabul; Rep. Wants Visas

FRESH MEADOWS, QUEENS — Over the summer, when the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control of the country, Bilal Ahmad's wife and 5-year-old son were in Kabul.

Ahmad, a U.S. citizen and resident of Fresh Meadows, traveled to the capital city to bring his family back to Queens, but wasn't able to get them visas.

Instead, the family made it to Abu Dhabi, where they've been living in the Emirates Humanitarian City refugee camp as they continue to wait for temporary visas.

They've been there for months, but U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, who represents northeast Queens, is trying to speed the process along; on Tuesday she called on the U.S. State Department to get the family visas as soon as possible, so that they can return to Queens.

"My heart aches for this family and my staff and I are pushing the State Department to get them to Queens," said Meng in a statement, adding that the visas are particularly urgent because Ahmad's employer told him that he has to be back at work this month.

He is also in jeopardy of losing his apartment and a part-time job as a driver if he is not back in New York soon, according to Meng.

"Bilal went to Afghanistan to ensure the well-being of his family and to bring them to safety here. Months later, they should still not be stuck overseas, and his livelihood should not be at risk because he sought to keep his wife and child out of harm’s way," said the Congresswoman.

Meng's office said that she is the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations; the subcommittee has oversight of the State Department’s budget and activities.