Veterans for American Ideals leader Andy Slivka is gaining national attention in his fight to bring his friend and former interpreter, Zia, to America. Slivka was serving in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan with the Marines when he met Zia, an Afghan national serving as an interpreter for Slivka’s unit. The two became fast friends.

"If I ever had an issue, I could just sit there and talk to him," Slivka told Fox News. "He acted as a father when my own father wasn't there . . . and he risked everything he had in order to do it."

Zia accompanied Slivka and Marines during dangerous operations in Afghanistan as one of the countless interpreters and translators that are vital the mission there.

“Without the connection heroes like Zia provided, productive engagement with Afghans would have been impossible . . . and more Americans would have perished as a result,” writes VFAI leader Paul Bartel, who also served with Zia in Afghanistan.

Interpreters like Zia face grave danger for their service to the United States. Since 2009, the United States has allowed its wartime allies and their families to relocate to America under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. But now, that program is in danger of being terminated by Congress.

“Only 3,800 visas remain and the program is set to expire this year,” says Bartel. “Unless Congress continues to fund this program, only a minority of Afghans who helped the United States will be able to claim what the American government promised them, and the rest will be left to fend for themselves.” Currently, over 9,800 applicants remain in the pipeline.

To help Slivka and Bartel ensure that America keeps its promise to Zia and all of our Afghan allies, sign our petition to extend and expand the Special Immigrant Visa program.

Vets for American Ideals is spearheading a growing movement among veterans who support not only our wartime allies, but all refugees fleeing conflict and oppression. In an interview with War is Boring, Human Rights First’s director of national security outreach and VFAI founder Scott Cooper offered his own experience:

“[I saw] people who had nothing to do with the war, decent people who wanted nothing to do with any of this,” said Cooper, speaking of his time as a Marine during conflicts in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. “You want to think of yourself as the good guy when you’re wearing that uniform.”

By standing up for refugees, Cooper and veterans across the nation are upholding the same values that inspired them to serve in the first place. They’re also calling for a return to civility, unity, and American ideals in a time when the nation seems hopelessly divided.

As part of United Religion Initiative’s #TangibleHope campaign, this profile of VFAI leader Brandy Baxter exemplifies how veterans can be a source of unity and inspiration. Baxter directs the Boots to Heels program, an initiative of the non-profit Attitudes and Attire, which helps women veterans reintegrate into civilian society.

“I have made it my personal mission to promote love, not hate, and to promote community, not disunity,” says Baxter. “Veterans need to get on board with a new mission: Uniting the United States of America!”

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can be involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at vfai@humanrightsfirst.