By Ava Cole ‘22, News Editor

America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan came to an end in late August of 2021 with the U.S. military evacuating more than 120,000 people from the country, including both American and Afghan citizens. While the chaos of this mass evacuation has died down, the thousands of Afghan citizens who escaped their terrorist-ridden homeland now face a new challenge: adjusting to life here in the U.S. 

 Liberty Village, located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Pemberton, New Jersey, is home to nearly 11,000 Afghan refugees. All of them plan to become U.S. citizens and will eventually be relocated by resettlement agencies to cities across the country. Twenty-five-year old Silen Hussainzada, who witnessed the cruel and inhumane treatment of her people by the Taliban, told ABC News that upon arriving at the New Jersey base on September 8, she felt she “[could] finally rest.” When asked about life in Afghanistan, Dr. Ghulam Eshan Sharifi added, “I was hiding because it was dangerous for me to go outside.” Liberty Village provides English classes, recreational activities, and job fairs for community members, as well as full coverage medical care (OB/GYN care, dental care, etc.). In addition, over 100 Afghan children have been born at the New Jersey military base. In addition, many Americans from the surrounding area of Philadelphia and other cities have donated culturally appropriate clothing for Afghan refugees to wear, such as hijabs. “The only thing that we can say is ‘thank you,’” said Sharifi. “I advised my children, my grandsons, to be harnessed to this country, to work hard for this country.” 

While Liberty Village has done a solid job of taking care of the thousands of refugees in New Jersey, many Afghans are still apprehensive about what the future holds for them outside the military base. Some have chosen to leave the base without waiting to be relocated by resettlement agencies, which is known as “independent departure.” “There is frustration. People are upset,” said one man who left the base with his wife and 5 year-old son to live temporarily in Montclair, New Jersey. Independent departures are not uncommon among the people in Liberty Village, especially those with younger children. Academic classes for kids are yet to be provided (although there is a plan to begin schooling), and activities for kids are limited. “I do want to continue to make sure that if they’re going to be there for any length of time that we make sure the children can start to get into K-12 education and become familiar with our American system,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherill.

 It has proven to be a challenge both ensuring a safe and prosperous environment within Liberty Village and working to integrate Afghan refugees into U.S. cities, but hope is still everyone’s main sentiment. “It’s beautiful,” said Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Yee who works with the refugees including children. “I’m just so optimistic for their future and the life they’ll have in the United States.”