Deputy’s Family Escapes Afghanistan, Taliban With Sheriff’s Help

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — As the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan unfolded, Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman worked behind-the-scenes in Florida to help the family of a new deputy and former Afghan interpreter escape the country.

Now that they're in the United States, the sheriff has organized a fundraiser to get them settled in their new home in Sarasota County.

Deputy Mubarak, whose first name wasn’t provided, was born in eastern Afghanistan and worked as an interpreter and combat linguist helping the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines for many years. His father encouraged both him and his brother to take on this role.

“He wanted me not only to be a linguist, but also to be some kind of bridge between the Americans and the local people,” Mubarak said in a video shared by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.

Because of his work, he was granted U.S. citizenship and he immigrated with his family 13 years ago, according to the video. Since then, he’s spent time working at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Quantico in Virginia, and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and Camp Pendleton in California, teaching basic language and operational culture. He also earned a master’s degree in central Eurasian studies.

Mubarak is a new member of the sheriff’s office. He was sworn in as a deputy in April.

“I am an active member of this community and I always wanted to be among the people, and I always wanted to be in a position where I could contribute more to the community,” he said.

As the Taliban took over Afghanistan and the U.S. began withdrawing troops from the country, he recognized that his family was in danger.

“I was very fearful for them because I was very well known in the area and it would be a very quick action for them to go after my sisters and my brother and nephews and nieces,” he said.

Mubarak turned to Hoffman for guidance. The two had ties prior to his joining SCSO, as he worked closely with the sheriff’s cousin, a colonel for the Marines, while serving alongside the U.S. Special Forces.

Hoffman immediately got to work, reaching out to every contact he could think of – Sen. Rick Scott’s office, the U.S. Marines, the state department. Through these connections, Mubarak’s family was able to make it past several Taliban checkpoints and catch a flight out of Afghanistan.

“I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he saved my cousin’s life and a lot of other Marines, so it seemed like the right thing to do for someone who risked his life for our country and, frankly, his country,” Hoffman said in the SCSO video.

Thirty-three of Mubarak’s 34 family members made it to the United States and are at Fort Bliss, Texas, where they’re being processed for special immigrant visas. After that, they’ll come to Sarasota County.

“It happened quick. We’re trying to explore different options so we can have smooth transition for them in beginning a new life,” he said.

Hoffman added, “They’re going to need a lot of assistance when they get here.”

He’s set up a GoFundMe fundraiser and hopes to raise $100,000 for them. As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly $55,000 had been donated to the family.

Mubarak said, “I feel honored and privileged that our sheriff is going out to do everything to help a new member of this community.”

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