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Iraqi refugees leave Fredericksburg for life in the Middle East
BLOG: Read the REPORTER'S TAKE.
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Shamas Jawad woke up groggily in the back seat of a minivan bound for the airport. "Are we there yet?" the sleepy 3-year-old asked in Arabic. Awkward laughter followed. The curly-haired preschooler and her family wouldn't reach their destination for another 36 hours. And then they could face an additional daylong journey. When the Jawads arrive in Syria, they may find a cheap place to rent. But the government could instead deny them refuge and offer a police escort back to the Jawads' native Iraq. Shamas' father, Muoafaq Jawad, thinks either option would be better than life in America. He, his wife and five children arrived in Stafford County on Aug. 27. They fled Iraq in 2006, months after Jawad's then-16-year-old son was kidnapped on his way home from school. While Jawad gathered the $20,000 ransom, the kidnappers broke Ahmed's legs and teeth. When they got Ahmed back, the family left for Syria and then America, expecting a new life. They found poverty, unemployment and homelessness here. The Jawads were evicted from their Stafford townhouse March 12 and immediately began begging and borrowing money for airfare for all seven family members. They packed their clothes and left for Syria on Thursday. "We came here a few months ago filled with hope," Jawad said. "Now, we are going back. We have no hope." Unable to find jobs during the recession, the Jawads and another Iraqi refugee family both left Stafford on Thursday. About 85 Iraqis resettled in the Fredericksburg area last year. Most came through Jordan and Syria where, refugees say, someone promised them jobs and aid once they got to America. "They told us they would bring us to the United States for a better life," Jawad said. But he and other Iraqi refugees in America say they were better off as refugees in Syria and Jordan. "I have been in this work since 1995 and have not yet seen anything like this," said Seyoum Berhe, director of migration and refugee services for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. The U.S. Department of State doesn't track how many refugees leave America, but refugee resettlement advocates say the numbers are not large.
Date published: 3/23/2009
some 200 years ago and some a generation ago. I don't recall reading anywhere that they expected and received what these people received.
My ancestors worked hard from the minute they got off the boat, got a flat to stay in and continuously improved their lot. None expected a handout and none was given because the other people in the neighborhood all had barely enough for their own family.
Of course it was always a good idea to vote democrat so you got paid 5 buck and promise of a better job.
Publius2 - What I meant (and I am sorry that I was not clear) is that if you trace your family's heritage, I am sure that you will find out that your ancestors came from another country and settled here as either legal or illegal immigrants. Someone gave them a chance.
fugyou - If my post had a "self righteous" tone that was not my intention; rather, I was trying to point out that we need to help those that are trying to help themselves. That is all.
I disagree with your statement "Legal immigrants should be assisted in their transistion, especially war refugees." America is the land of "opportunity." These immigrants were given the opportunity to come here! In case you have forgotten, we are in a recession and unemployment is high, people are losing their homes, etc. Why would this be any different for the immigrants?
We have children here in America (AMERICANS) starving to death, who have no homes and that sleep on the street; but yet this family received how much money to be helped? I'm sorry life back home wasn't great, but things in the US aren't going well enough for us to help them for any longer than what they received. We put so many other people first, I think it's time we helped our own first!!
We're not talking about "other" immigrants here. Your self righteous post is a bit ridiculous with regard to this article. You had me at "True, this family appears to have existed with their hands out". I mean honestly, what more would you have us do for these people? They received rent for their family, likely costs for food, and finally more thousands for airfare for the whole brood. Men and women who strap on a gun and pin on a badge to keep them safe here don't EARN near what they were HANDED.
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