Everyday Is a Fight: Yousif’s Ongoing Journey for Safety and Hope
by Jane Register, Development Director of World Relief SoCal //
“Every day is a fight. Put yourself in my shoes and ask yourself what you would do?” – Yousif, asylum seeker
Two and a half years ago, Yousif, his wife, and their young son arrived in the United States after fleeing Afghanistan. They came full of hope, believing they had finally found safety — a place where they could worship freely as Christians, something they had only dreamt of while living in fear under the Taliban regime.
For the first time in their lives, they were able to openly read their Bibles, attend church services, and pray in public without fear of punishment or death. But today, 2.5 years later, their future remains painfully uncertain.
Fleeing for Their Lives
In Afghanistan, Yousif and his family lived under constant threat. As Afghan Christians, practicing their faith publicly was punishable by death. For years, they gathered in secret, worshiping in an underground church behind locked doors.
When Kabul fell to the Taliban, their lives became even more dangerous. Yousif’s previous work with the U.S.-backed Afghan government marked him for persecution and certain death if discovered. With no choice but to flee, Yousif, his wife, and their infant son began a harrowing journey, eventually arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum.
A New Beginning
Upon arrival, World Relief Southern California came alongside Yousif and his family through:
- Host Home Program, providing temporary housing.
- Good Neighbor Team, connecting them with a local church that has walked faithfully with them ever since.
Yousif quickly applied for and received his work permit, a milestone that brought hope and dignity. But finding a job proved overwhelming. The layers of loss and trauma he carried made even the first steps feel impossible.
Through World Relief SoCal’s Job Readiness Program, Yousif gained the skills and confidence to apply for positions. His perseverance paid off — he received multiple offers and was ultimately promoted to a salaried role with benefits, beating out 62 other applicants.
For a moment, it felt like a breakthrough.
Living in Fear
But even with a steady job, Yousif’s life is marked by anxiety. Their asylum case remains undecided, and their son’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a safeguard for vulnerable immigrants — was recently revoked.
Each day, Yousif worries about what could happen if he’s stopped by immigration enforcement.
“What if I encounter an ICE agent?
Will they believe me when I explain that I have a work permit and a pending asylum claim?
That I am a Christian fleeing for my life, not a criminal?
What if they don’t?”
Out of fear, his wife and son rarely leave their home. Their 4-year-old longs to play with other children, but isolation has become their reality — hiding once again, this time in the U.S.
Yousif shared that even simple moments, like attending his men’s Bible study, bring complex emotions. Sitting openly at a restaurant with his Bible, he realized he may need to return to studying Scripture behind closed doors, just as he did in Afghanistan — not because of religious persecution, but because of the vulnerability of being visibly immigrant.
The Weight of Waiting
Alongside everyday concerns — paying bills, caring for his family, navigating the high cost of living — Yousif bears the heavy uncertainty of his family’s future.
“Every day is a fight,” Yousif shares. “I am fighting for my right to live, for our right to live, every single day. If you were me, would you not escape from a country that is trying to kill you? Would you not fight for your son? Where can we go and be safe?”
Returning to Afghanistan would mean certain death for Yousif, his wife, and their son. Yet here in the U.S., they live in a fragile in-between — welcomed by some, feared by others.
Yousif wonders, “Will my Christian brothers and sisters in the U.S. support policies that would send me back to be killed? Do they see me as their brother in Christ? As a human being?”
His words echo the lament of Psalm 13:1:
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.”
How You Can Help
This is a critical time for asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants in our nation and in Southern California, where immigrants make up over 28% of the population.
World Relief Southern California is honored to walk alongside families like Yousif’s, providing:
- Legal services to navigate the complex asylum process.
- Housing and community connections through local churches.
- Job readiness support to restore dignity and stability.
- Advocacy for policies that protect both national security and the God-given dignity of every person.
But we cannot do this work without the faithful partnership of people like you.
You Can Take Action Today:
- Advocate – Add your voice in support of compassionate and just policies.
- Pray – Stand in prayer for asylum seekers and vulnerable families.
- Give Monthly – Provide steady, reliable support that families like Yousif’s can count on.
A Call to the Church
As followers of Jesus, we are called to see the image of God in every person and to stand with our brothers and sisters facing fear, persecution, and displacement. Yousif’s story is not just about one family — it’s a call to the Church to embody the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, offering welcome, advocacy, and hope.
*A pseudonym has been used to protect the safety of individuals mentioned.