World News
California students and parents stranded in Afghanistan
- Students of the Cajon Valley Union School District in El Cajon, California, along with their parents, are now among the thousands of people stranded in Afghanistan.
- The students and their families traveled to the country for summer vacation but was unable to reach the airport to return home.
- The school district is now coordinating with the office of California Rep. Darrell Issa to get the stranded individuals home.
More than 20 students and 16 parents from California who took a summer trip to Afghanistan are now stranded in the country.
The stranded individuals, from the Cajon Valley Union School District in El Cajon, Calif., now join thousands of people waiting to leave the country amid political unrest.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Cajon Valley Superintendent David Miyashiro has informed school board members on Tuesday that he would discuss the situation with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
According to Miyashiro, the families traveled to Afghanistan on special visas for U.S. military service. The students attended different schools but within the same school district.
The school district has already provided government officials with information on the families to help locate them.
The students’ situation first reached Mike Serban, who works with refugee families in the district and heads the Family and Children Engagement program. He then contacted Miyashiro last week to inform him about the families’ concerns that the students could miss classes.
A spokesperson of Issa assured Miyashiro in an email that the congressman is working diligently with his staff “to determine the facts on the ground, any bureaucratic barriers that can be removed, and the best ways to help those stranded leave Afghanistan and return home safely.”
The students and their families had planned to return home before the new school year starts on Aug. 17, Cajon Valley School Board member Jo Alegria told the Times.
Cajon Valley School Board President Tamara Otero added that the students and parents had already purchased tickets to fly out of Afghanistan but were unable to reach the airport.
Otero explained, “The biggest concern is that the Taliban closed the airport. We are so worried about our students that are stuck there. We’ll do the best we can to get them out.”
Even the United States military had to look for alternative routes to Kabul’s international airport over the weekends amid the ISIS-K threat.
Source: The Hill
John J
August 28, 2021 at 11:15 am
Not the vacation spot I’d have chosen
Patrick
August 28, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Whatever the lying media is telling us we know it is far wirs
MaryJo Mays Simmons
August 28, 2021 at 11:20 am
What a truly stupid thing to do–for students, parents, and sponsors to go to Afghanistan at a time they had to know that the border was closing in the near future. IF this group of Americans DO get out, they will have used up vital efforts and space that those Afgans and others who aided the US during the past 20 years who are desperate for their lives and the lives of their families could have used to evacuate. Now those efforts and space will be pre-empted for American tourists. What to truly sad situation.
Greg
August 28, 2021 at 11:55 am
I think they went to Afghanistan because going to Mt. Rushmore would have been racist.
Phillopius
August 28, 2021 at 11:30 am
I think taking any trip such as that in these times was totally foolish and risky to them and those likely to try to save them. We’ve curtailed many trips which would have exposed us and any potential rescuers to bodily harm or death. It’s typical of a class of of our nation which thinks it’s above the fray. As cruel as it sounds, I’d say do not take any risks to get them out and please don’t waste valuable resources in attempts to do so.
Mel varn
August 28, 2021 at 2:02 pm
I’m with you. Stupidity doesn’t deserve priority.
Leslie M Seely
August 28, 2021 at 11:34 am
What in the hell are all these civilians doing in a war zone, not only these Californians but all of the thousands they say are here, Why. No wonder the military feels like their hands are tied with all these people who has no business being here. This whole fiasco is worst in history. Someone needs to pay for this, not just one but the whole group. I also agree with Lt. Gen. Stuart Scheller on all counts!
the old marine
Manuel
August 28, 2021 at 1:01 pm
These California idiots went to Afghanistan and now the school district worries that they will miss classes. They are being schooled in “Stupid is as stupid does”. Say bye bye to your friends and family.
Cathy Floyd
August 28, 2021 at 1:02 pm
I am sure that Biden will give the friendly terrorist in charge there a list of their names and depend on them to see them safely home, while he himself abandons them , like he has the rest of our people and our allies.