Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Connections

An update on the state of the SIV program

Walid, Billal, and Ellen Smith discussing the state of the SIV program on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Megan Mack
/
WXXI News
Walid, Billal, and Ellen Smith discussing the state of the SIV program on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Tuesday, December 7, 2021
A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.
WXXI News

We're joined by Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise. The organization helps interpreters who served U.S. military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq resettle in America. The process can take years, and it has become even more difficult -- and critical -- since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

This hour, we examine the current state of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and how to help refugees in Rochester. Our guests:

  • Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise
  • Walid, Afghan native who served the U.S. military as an interpreter
  • Billal, Afghan native who served the U.S. military as an interpreter
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.
Emmarae Stein is the production assistant for "Connections with Evan Dawson."