Broken-winged Birds: Afghans in Exile

Borderless Magazine’s Favorite Stories of 2024 Arts & Culture Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Environment Español Health Immigration Policy Investigation Labor Staff pick Visuals

Borderless Magazine’s Favorite Stories of 2024

An Afghan refugee seeking his pilot license, backlog and attorney shortages in immigration court, Latino residents pushing for more green space on the Southwest Side and more stories Borderless reported on Chicago’s immigrant communities.

Mauricio PeñaDecember 23, 2024

Saleha Soadat for Borderless Magazine

Defying Gravity: An Afghan’s Journey to Get His Pilot License Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Staff pick

Defying Gravity: An Afghan’s Journey to Get His Pilot License

Najibullah Amini overcame ethnic discrimination, poverty and the oppressive Taliban regime to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.

Saleha SoadatJanuary 22, 2024

Mustafa Hussain for Borderless Magazine

These Chicago Afghans Have Built a Community on the Soccer Field Arts & Culture Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending Visuals

These Chicago Afghans Have Built a Community on the Soccer Field

After fleeing the Taliban, a group of Afghans in Chicago have found each other – and strength – through playing soccer.

Saleha SoadatJuly 18, 2023

A woman looks back over her shoulder and a blue bird faces her

Illustration by Anna Mielniczuk for Borderless Magazine

She Fought to Get An Education in Afghanistan. Now This Student is Finding Hope at DePaul University. As Told To Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

She Fought to Get An Education in Afghanistan. Now This Student is Finding Hope at DePaul University.

Sara and 147 other female students were evacuated from Kabul University after the Taliban took over the Afghan government in August 2021.

Saleha SoadatSeptember 28, 2022

A woman with a green jacket and a butterfly is dancing

Illustration by Anna Mielniczuk for Borderless Magazine

Fleeing Suicide Attacks, an Afghan Student Finds Freedom in Chicago As Told To Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

Fleeing Suicide Attacks, an Afghan Student Finds Freedom in Chicago

Maryam and 147 other female students waited at the Kabul airport for days before they could escape Afghanistan.

Saleha SoadatSeptember 27, 2022

Saleha Soadat interviews former Afghan district governor Salima Mazari on a couch

Michelle Kanaar/Borderless Magazine

One Year After Evacuating Kabul, Afghan Journalist Reflects on Life as a Refugee Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

One Year After Evacuating Kabul, Afghan Journalist Reflects on Life as a Refugee

After fleeing Afghanistan in August 2021, Borderless Pathways Fellow Saleha Soadat reflects on her first year in the U.S.

Diane Bou KhalilAugust 18, 2022

Salima Mazari looking out the window of her current home

Michelle Kanaar/Borderless Magazine

This Female Afghan Governor Fought Against the Taliban As Told To Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Staff pick Trending

This Female Afghan Governor Fought Against the Taliban

Salima Mazari was one of just three women serving as a district governor in Afghanistan before the Taliban took over.

Saleha SoadatJuly 7, 2022

Naheed Farid with a red scarf and trees behind her

Photo by Shuran Huang For Borderless Magazine

An Exiled Afghan Politician Keeps Fighting for Women As Told To Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

An Exiled Afghan Politician Keeps Fighting for Women

Naheed Farid was elected to the Afghan House of Representatives as one of its youngest members. Now exiled in Maryland, she continues to advocate for women in Afghanistan.

Saleha SoadatJune 28, 2022

Shuran Huang for Borderless Magazine

An Afghan Lawmaker Fights for Justice While Exiled in the U.S. As Told To Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

An Afghan Lawmaker Fights for Justice While Exiled in the U.S.

Mahdi Rasikh went from weaving carpets in a refugee camp to representing his hometown in Afghanistan’s Parliament. But after the Taliban took over, Rasikh had to escape to the U.S.

Saleha SoadatJune 2, 2022

Photo by Bjorn Normann Jr.

An Afghan Journalist’s Escape from the Taliban Broken-Winged Birds: Afghans in Exile Trending

An Afghan Journalist’s Escape from the Taliban

Last August, after U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan, journalist Saleha Soadat was forced to leave her life in Kabul and seek safety abroad.

Saleha SoadatMarch 30, 2022