Daily News Lesson

SHOW ALL

Jan. 3, 2022, 11:03 a.m.

Many Afghan refugees, including unaccompanied minors, remain in legal limbo in the U.S.

Sign up for NewsHour Classroom's ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning. To receive NewsHour's monthly education newsletter click here. Write us with any questions, concerns or lesson ideas at education@newshour.org .

Summary

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August, the United States has evacuated more than 75,000 Afghans through Operation Allies Welcome. Roughly 23,000 evacuees remain on six military bases across the U.S., but more than 50,000 have been placed in local communities. After a tumultuous journey, these refugees are now tasked with rebuilding lives in a new country. Amna Nawaz reports.

Five Facts

  • How many Afghans were relocated to the U.S. as part of "Operation Allies Welcome"?
  • Where are the 23,000 refugees not in local communities currently living?
  • Why is interviewed in this piece, and what is her background?
  • What are some of the difficulties these refugees are facing?
  • Why are some children who are unaccompanied by adults facing a "legal limbo"?

Focus Questions

How do you think communities across the U.S. can best help Afghan refugees adapt to life in this country? Media literacy: What do you wish the interviewer had asked that she did not?

For More

How are some former immigrant communities and other citizens helping Afghans adjust to life in the U.S.? See this lesson and this one to find out.
Seattle-1024x576

Links

TRANSCRIPT

Recent Daily News Lessons

park

Daily News Lesson

National parks impacted by political pressure and new construction

Discuss changes to the National Parks Service during the Trump administration, and what might come for the agency's future

heat

Daily News Lesson

In one of the nation's hottest cities, bags of ice are helping save lives

Learn how cities are coping with people impacted by extreme summer heat

alzheimer-1024x576

Daily News Lesson

How the Mayo Clinic is using improv and music to engage dementia patients

Explore the idea of "music as medicine" and the research behind it

Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 1.04.41 PM

Daily News Lesson

New study reveals widespread signs of brain trauma among former NFL players

"...this is absolutely not a rare disease in the NFL population." — Dr. Chris Nowinski

SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

PBS News Hour Classroom

Copyright © 2025 News Hour Production LLC. All Rights Reserved

Illustrations by Annamaria Ward