Since the U.S. travel ban on Afghanistan, Shariah and Anita have been separated from half their family. After moving to Erie less than eight months ago, they’ve been adjusting to a new culture and learning English—while facing the hardest challenge yet: staying connected to loved ones through nothing but Snapchat and WhatsApp, holding onto hope with every message.

"When we heard the news, we were so upset," said 23-year-old Shariah.

“In general, all mothers care deeply about their children,” said Sayeed Sayedzada with MCRC, translating as Anita shared how heartbreaking it is to have her family split apart. “She hasn’t seen her sons in years, and she held onto hope that one day she could bring the whole family here.”

“I feel like I may never get the chance to build my future,” Shariah added. That hope, she said, is beginning to fade.

Now, Shariah works every day of the week alongside her sister just to afford rent and put food on the table for the rest of the family.

Sayeed said this is not an isolated case—"many families have waited more than eight years for approval and are still left with uncertainty."

“It’s really sad for them,” he said. “Some fathers are in Pakistan while their children are here. Many feel hopeless because they don’t know if they’ll ever be reunited.”

Despite everything, the family says that they are grateful to be safe in the United States and appreciate the opportunity to start a new life—even if not all of their loved ones are with them.

“We’re not the kind of people to give up hope,” Anita said through Sayeed. “And we will always remember the support we’ve received.”