Major Joshua Mast

And statelessness is a huge problem in Afghanistan because of all the IDPs and such that people don't have documentation citizenship or they don't have citizenship. So we're like, okay, well, the best category for her that she fits into is stateless. And she's in the custody of the United States. And, like, terrorist detainees in Gitmo have basic rights.

And statelessness is a huge problem in Afghanistan because of all the IDPs and such that people don't have documentation citizenship or they don't have citizenship. So we're like, okay, well, the best category for her that she fits into is stateless. And she's in the custody of the United States. And, like, terrorist detainees in Gitmo have basic rights.

And statelessness is a huge problem in Afghanistan because of all the IDPs and such that people don't have documentation citizenship or they don't have citizenship. So we're like, okay, well, the best category for her that she fits into is stateless. And she's in the custody of the United States. And, like, terrorist detainees in Gitmo have basic rights.

So let's advocate, let's make the argument that she's a stateless minor in the custody of the United States. And so we were authorized to declassify this stuff and use it in the court system, and we did. And the next day—so we argued that— She is a stateless minor in U.S. government custody.

So let's advocate, let's make the argument that she's a stateless minor in the custody of the United States. And so we were authorized to declassify this stuff and use it in the court system, and we did. And the next day—so we argued that— She is a stateless minor in U.S. government custody.

So let's advocate, let's make the argument that she's a stateless minor in the custody of the United States. And so we were authorized to declassify this stuff and use it in the court system, and we did. And the next day—so we argued that— She is a stateless minor in U.S. government custody.

She's a victim of terrorism, like, in this crazy situation, and no other state would have jurisdiction over her. And based on the evidence, the judge, like, the evidence that they were moving every 30 days, they were known to go over multi-jurisdictional boundaries, like, over national borders, the judge agreed with that assessment. They found these facts in a ruling.

She's a victim of terrorism, like, in this crazy situation, and no other state would have jurisdiction over her. And based on the evidence, the judge, like, the evidence that they were moving every 30 days, they were known to go over multi-jurisdictional boundaries, like, over national borders, the judge agreed with that assessment. They found these facts in a ruling.

She's a victim of terrorism, like, in this crazy situation, and no other state would have jurisdiction over her. And based on the evidence, the judge, like, the evidence that they were moving every 30 days, they were known to go over multi-jurisdictional boundaries, like, over national borders, the judge agreed with that assessment. They found these facts in a ruling.

So we were then her guardians, right? So now I can arrange an appointment at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and they have a world-renowned, like, pediatric ward. So we set her up, like, the whole nine yards, a treatment plan, her doctor. We gave her doctor her medical record from DOD. We got everything set up for her to come back, and, like, it's looking like she's coming back, like,

So we were then her guardians, right? So now I can arrange an appointment at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and they have a world-renowned, like, pediatric ward. So we set her up, like, the whole nine yards, a treatment plan, her doctor. We gave her doctor her medical record from DOD. We got everything set up for her to come back, and, like, it's looking like she's coming back, like,

So we were then her guardians, right? So now I can arrange an appointment at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and they have a world-renowned, like, pediatric ward. So we set her up, like, the whole nine yards, a treatment plan, her doctor. We gave her doctor her medical record from DOD. We got everything set up for her to come back, and, like, it's looking like she's coming back, like,

I'm talking to Headquarters Marine Corps on the phone. Like, I'm in Afghanistan at 3 in the morning, my time, talking to Headquarters Marine Corps, dependency branch, and they formally grant her. I have the documents downstairs. Like, they formally add her as my dependent.

I'm talking to Headquarters Marine Corps on the phone. Like, I'm in Afghanistan at 3 in the morning, my time, talking to Headquarters Marine Corps, dependency branch, and they formally grant her. I have the documents downstairs. Like, they formally add her as my dependent.

I'm talking to Headquarters Marine Corps on the phone. Like, I'm in Afghanistan at 3 in the morning, my time, talking to Headquarters Marine Corps, dependency branch, and they formally grant her. I have the documents downstairs. Like, they formally add her as my dependent.

And in the meantime, we also got her a certificate of foreign birth because in Virginia, there's this, there's a, they had contemplated that foreign children being adopted in Virginia might need a birth certificate because sometimes from third world countries, you don't have that documentation. And so there's a way where you can apply for that. And so we did and we got it.

And in the meantime, we also got her a certificate of foreign birth because in Virginia, there's this, there's a, they had contemplated that foreign children being adopted in Virginia might need a birth certificate because sometimes from third world countries, you don't have that documentation. And so there's a way where you can apply for that. And so we did and we got it.

And in the meantime, we also got her a certificate of foreign birth because in Virginia, there's this, there's a, they had contemplated that foreign children being adopted in Virginia might need a birth certificate because sometimes from third world countries, you don't have that documentation. And so there's a way where you can apply for that. And so we did and we got it.

And so we have a name that says unknown birthplace, unknown parents, or those unknown birthplace, citizenship unknown, and then us as her parents. And so we provided that documentation and the court order to the Marine Corps Dependency Branch, which is the authorized agency official to make those determinations, fully knowing we're in Afghanistan. My wife was on the phone with him.

And so we have a name that says unknown birthplace, unknown parents, or those unknown birthplace, citizenship unknown, and then us as her parents. And so we provided that documentation and the court order to the Marine Corps Dependency Branch, which is the authorized agency official to make those determinations, fully knowing we're in Afghanistan. My wife was on the phone with him.