The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING SPOJMIE NASIRI
______
HON. ERIC SWALWELL
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Mr. SWALWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Afghan-American immigration attorney Spojmie Nasiri for her tireless and impactful work in assisting Afghans before and during the crisis of the Taliban's resurgence.
Spojmie was born in Paktia, Afghanistan, in 1975 and emigrated with her family first to Germany in 1981 and then to the United States in 1982, refugees from the Soviet-Afghan war. After growing up in Concord, California, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis in 1998 and her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of Law in 2003.
Today, she is a member of the California State Bar admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
She chose to practice immigration law because she is, as she puts it,
``acutely aware of the pain endured by immigrants separated from their families.'' She has used her personal experience to more fully understand the challenges her clients face, and to help them navigate the complex immigration process. She has done substantial pro bono work, and in 2019 she founded the nonprofit We Have Hope Foundation to support Pashto speaking youth in Afghanistan and around the world by creating accessibility to world-class learning materials in Pashto.
Her life's work took on new dimensions in recent months as she has worked diligently from her Pleasanton, California office to help bring clients out of Afghanistan. Working by phone and email, she strove to coordinate efforts with the State Department to help people navigate the terrifying circumstances in Kabul to reach the airport and escape the country.
At the same time, Spojmie has worked with groups including the Afghan Coalition and the Jewish Community Relations Council to inform the public about Afghan refugees' legal and practical needs for resettlement, and how best to help in the months and years to come.
``As an immigrant, you have a passion, a drive that's unlike any other,'' Spojmie once wrote. ``And you want to give back.''
I thank Spojmie for continuing to give back so much in a time of such great need. She is a credit to her heritage, family, profession, and the 15th Congressional District.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 192
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