Iraqi political refugees arrive in Roanoke

By Mollie Halpern
Investigative Reporter
Published: April 28, 2008

Flight 2579 lands on the tarmac at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
For political refugees Haidar Khairallah and his wife and son, its a flight to freedom.

Khairallah says, “i’m very happy and i’m looking for a brighter future for my son, for my wife, for myself i just want to live happy and safe and in peace.“

Khairallah was working as an interpreter for U.S. soldiers in Baghdad when his convoy took enemy fire.
He lost his leg trying to save a soldier from being shot.
In working with U.S. soldiers who went to war to liberate his country, Khairallah lost his own freedom.
He says, “They wanted to kidnap me, my son and my wife my house already got two times threatened so i had to take my family and leave from Iraq.

But it took 4 years before they arrived in america.
The U.S. Department of State has been slow in allowing Iraqi’s to seek asylum here.
It’s receiving criticism from organizations which help refugee’s resettle.

Barbara Smith, the former director of Roanoke Refugee and Immigration Services says, “personally i think it’s beyond shameful.“

Barbara Smith says Roanoke is the perfect place to bring Iraqi refugees because it already has an iraqi community.

She says “We’re ready, we were told to be ready and nothing happens”.
   
WSLS 10 On Your Side asked the U.S. State Department the reason behind the delay.

Thomas pierce, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, of the U.S. Department of State says, The reason for…resettlement in the united states… It takes a while, especially when you’re starting from scratch.“

The U-S Department of State plans to admit 12,000 Iraqi refugees this fiscal year.
Also this fiscal year, it has issued 968 special immigrant visas to translators and interpreters who assisted the U.S., like Khairallah.

Mollie asks, “so how does it feel to finally know that you’re going to live in america?“

Khairallah says,“ i feel very happy.“

Happy, he and his family’s American dream has finally begun.