About Us
Timeline
Early August 2021 - Digital Dunkirk was formed as a result of the catastrophic evacuation during the American Withdrawal from Afghanistan. This volunteer-led coalition of veterans, active-duty service members, intelligence professionals, and civilians mobilized to guide Afghan allies - interpreters, families, and former mil/civ partners - through two Taliban controlled checkpoints and into the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Late August 2021 - From Digital Dunkirk, TF Argo was founded by then Iowa State Legislator Zach Nunn and former Army Special Operator Jesse Jensen. As the final American plane departed Hamid Karzai International Airport, their team, which comprised of highly trained military and civilian volunteers, continues to receive urgent pleas from Afghan allies left behind. They mobilized to answer those calls, coordinating safe passage and humanitarian support in defiance of impossible odds.
September/October 2021 - Over the course of two harrowing months, TF Argo helped move 2,100 Afghan allies and American Citizens through 14 Taliban controlled checkpoints from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif with the support of courageous partners on the ground. The team chartered seven evacuation flights to the United Arab Emirates, but only five were able to carry Afghan families to safety before operations were forced to halt.
2022 until January 24, 2025 - In coordination with coalition partners, Task Force Argo worked alongside the U.S. State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), an office established to support Afghan allies, U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents left behind after the Kabul evacuations. Task Force Argo - a newly formed 501c3 - stepped in to connect more than 7,000 Afghan allies to the State Department for relocation and resettlement in the United States.
Disclaimer - Behind the numbers were sleepless nights, unanswered pleas, and the unbearable weight of choosing who might live. Volunteers, many of them veterans, carried the emotional burden of watching trusted partners beg for help as hope dimmed, gates shut, and doors closed. Afghan families sent voice notes from hiding, whispered prayers through static, and clung to the promise that someone, somewhere, still cared. Task Force Argo became that lifeline. It was not just logistics, but of love, loyalty, and the refusal to abandon those who had stood beside us.
January 20, 2025 - Executive Order 14161 “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” This policy focused on enhanced immigration vetting and screening procedures while prioritizing national security risks from regions or countries deemed high-risk. This executive order halted relocation and reunification flights for Afghan allies, even those with valid U.S. visas. The International Organization of Migration humanitarian travel loan came to an end.
January 21, 2025 - When the U.S. government ceased direct support for Afghan allies left behind, Task Force Argo once again stepped into the breach. In partnership with the Welcoming Initiative for Newcomers, the team began facilitating travel for Afghan families who held a valid U.S. visa - guiding them from third countries to safety in America. Joined by other coalition partners, this effort evolved into the Afghan Allies Safe Arrival Initiative, a veteran and civilian-led movement to restore hope, reunite families, and uphold the promise of protection. With 3,687 requests for help, the coalition has supported over 880 Afghan allies with U.S. visas in hand, and that number continues to increase daily.
How we do it
Vetting process
Previously:
Each person in need of evacuation is assigned a volunteer handler. Each volunteer communicates daily, screens immigration application documentation and passports, verifies the American Sponsor, coordinates safety and survival in Afghanistan, and presents the principal applicant and family members to the State Department for manifest eligibility.
Currently:
While empowering the principal applicant to conduct their own immigration case management, we offer guidance and resources in navigating the challenging immigration process. Our volunteers utilize information from the National Visa Center to provide updates to the principal applicant as needed.
Our volunteers have been dedicated to this work since August 2021. They are the best and will guide you through the process with respect, fairness, and empathy. Our practical application and lessons learned are invaluable.
Status assignments
Previously:
Eligible manifesting categories:
American Citizen
Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card holder)
American Citizen spouse, unmarried children under 21 years of age, parents, step-parents
Legal Permanent Resident spouse, unmarried children under 21 years of age
Special Immigration Visa (SIV) and immediate family (i.e., spouse and children listed on SIV application)
P1
P2
P3
Notes:
*State Department manifested Principal Applicants with a Visa that is interview ready or higher. Interview ready status means all fees are paid, DS-260 form has been submitted and reviewed by State Department, and all civil documents have been received.
*All individuals requesting evacuation must have a valid passport to be considered.
Currently:
Due to the 2025 executive orders CARE relocation assistance is paused. Any immigration to America is based solely on the principal applicant having a U.S. visa in hand. There is no U.S. government resettlement support or services in America. There is no IOM travel loan available to principal applicants to use to purchase airfare.
The Afghan Allies Safe Arrival Coalition can assist with airfare and resettlement support and services. Intake can be found here:
Afghan Allies Safe Arrival Coalition Form
Compliance
Task Force Argo worked with Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) for the purpose of funds management for our chartered flights in 2021. SOAA is a veteran non-profit organized under 501(c)(19). We are grateful for the support SOAA has been to Task Force Argo.