"But the USA has killed fifty thousand Afghans just in this current war ... and more every day. They're devastating the country. They make the Taliban look like boy scouts."
"How do you like it here in Germany?"
"I'm glad to be here. I'm glad they let me in. I'm not so glad they're trying to throw me out now."
"How's that? What's happened?"
"I had refugee status as long as the Taliban were in power because they were the ones who threatened me. But when the USA installed this new government, the Germans said I had to go back because now I wouldn't be killed. I can understand their position. But it would drive me crazy to see what the USA is doing there, to live in the middle of that. I'd probably join the Taliban!" Jamal gave a tormented laugh and dragged on his cigarette.
"So I went underground. I'm illegal here now. That means I can't hold a regular job. I have to worry every time I see a cop, hoping he doesn't ask for my papers. I work as a cook now where they pay me cash, no benefits, no health insurance. I publish articles here and there, but I can't be employed anywhere. It's a pain, a real struggle just to live.
"Sometimes the police raid the places where illegals work. They round them up and send them back to whatever country they came from. Last month they raided the restaurant where I worked. They did it before the customers arrived, so as not to upset them.
"Three cops barged from the dining room into the kitchen as we were working prep, shouted to everybody not to move and to show our papers. Three of us ran for the back door, but other police were blocking it. By now they knew we were the ones they wanted, so they closed in from both sides.
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