In 2017, Mohammed Al Zabidi celebrated when he learned he had been selected in the lottery for a permanent immigrant residence card, or ‘green card’, which randomly selects people from a large number of applicants. It was an opportunity to escape from his war-torn homeland of Yemen and pursue his dreams in America.
“I win! I won!” Shouted Al Zabidi. He borrowed money to finance his trip, bought clothes for his new life and picked up souvenirs for his friends there. Since there is no US embassy in Yemen, he made a grueling journey. to Djibouti for the visa interview.
But there, after receiving initial approval, his luck ran out: “CANCELED WITHOUT PREJUDICE,” the stamp in large black letters on the visa said he never used in his passport, after the administration of former President Donald Trump vetoed it. had spoken about the trips. from Muslim-majority countries, including his.
“My family was hoping for me… My mom was crying, that was what saddened me the most,” he said.
The repeal of the ban following President Joe Biden’s inauguration brought relief to the citizens of the countries affected by the measure. But among the celebrations are stories of broken dreams, divorced families, savings invested, and absences at milestones, from births to graduations. Some are also concerned that their chance is gone forever.
The lottery system requires winners to be screened and receive their visas by September 30 of the year they are chosen or they will lose it. So Al Zabidi wonders if he could ever go to the United States to work and pay back all the borrowed money.
Can we get our visas back? Will we be compensated? ‘He asked. “We don’t know anything”.
Many of those who saw their lives turned upside down are now facing questions about delays, fees paid and travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Immigration and Muslim rights advocates in the United States praise Biden’s decision, but also point to the work ahead of us to get those lives back on track and dismantle the legacy of veto.
“The veto brought up the story that Muslims, Africans and other colored communities have no place in America, that we are dangerous threats,” said Mary Bauer, legal director of Muslim Advocates. Ending the veto was only the first step to change that story. Now, the Biden government must remove other administrative obstacles to migration that prevent family reunification. “
According to US State Department data, more than 40,000 visas were denied because of the immigration ban. The figure includes not only that of the lottery, but also those of those who tried to visit their relatives, traveled for work or personal reasons, and of students who were accepted at universities in the country.
Biden has commissioned a report to address a number of issues, including a proposal to enforce reconsideration of rejected immigration visa applications based on Trump’s decree. The proposal will examine whether the declined orders should be reopened. In addition, he called for a plan to speed up the handling of those requests.
Many affected by the immigration veto are also affected by an April Trump order suspending the issuance of “green cards” to protect the US labor market amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden has not indicated whether he will lift this measure, and ending the immigration veto without revoking it makes little sense, said Rafael Urena, a California attorney.