It undermines the truth of who we
are. It is patently unacceptable. This Executive order has treated green card holders and immigrants in
this Nation as if they were criminals. It has torn families apart
across the world and pulled the rug out from families who were
preparing to begin a new life in the United States of America. And this
order has betrayed some of our closest allies--men and women who risked
their lives to help American servicemembers deployed often on hostile
soil. Ending the special immigrant visa programs established to help
Iraqis and Afghans who risked their lives to help American forces is
unacceptable. The United States cannot turn its back on those who
stepped up and stepped in when we needed them most. Just this morning, I read about an Iraqi man, Sami, who had risked
his life to work with the American Government in Iraq. After waiting 7
years to gain entry, going through a laborious process of vetting under
the special immigrant visa program, he and his family finally got the
OK, and they were ready to start their new lives in America. On
Saturday, he and his wife and two daughters had flown from Iraq to
Istanbul, and they were sitting in their seats ready to take off when
they were removed from the plane by security officials. Foreign Policy
magazine reported that, through tears, Sami's 7-year-old daughter
asked, ``Why don't they want us in America?''
American servicemembers and veterans are joining a growing core,
speaking out against this misguided decision which threatens the
commonsense program that helps our military do their jobs.
Keywords matched
visa immigrant green card immigrants