Repaying an ally

Repaying an ally

Miami Herald: Saman Kareem Ahmad risked his life as a translator for U.S. forces in Iraq. How does the U.S. government thank him? By denying him permanent residency. This is unacceptable. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services should reconsider the decision.

The Washington Post reported Ahmad’s story last Sunday. An Iraqi Kurd, he started translating for U.S. Special Forces in Mosul in 2003. His work earned him a commendation for “outstanding service and dedication” signed by Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, now the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

The U.S. Marines later sent Ahmad to Anbar province. In seven months there, he went on more than 200 patrols in violent areas. A marine captain recounted his bravery: “Sam put his life on the line with and for Coalition Forces on a daily basis.” For those efforts, he was denounced as a “collaborator.” His face was put on posters calling for his death.

The Marines helped Ahmad get to the United States with a U.S. visa. U.S. immigration authorities later granted him political asylum. Ahmad continues to work for the Marines. He now travels the country teaching U.S. troops Iraqi culture and language skills.

Bizarre turn

But Citizenship and Immigration Services denied him U.S. residency last month. The reason: Ahmad had been involved with the Kurdish Democratic Party, which CIS had judged an “undesignated terrorist organization” for having tried to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

This is absurd. Ahmad was in the KDP militia when he began translating for U.S. troops. At the time, the KDP was a U.S. ally in the current war. The common enemy was Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein. Today the KDP militia is part of Iraq’s Army. KDP has elected members in its regional government and seats in Iraq’s parliament.

CIS will not comment on Ahmad’s case. But an agency official said that a new law gives CIS more authority to exempt people and groups from “security-related” barriers to U.S. immigration. The agency is reviewing recent cases.

Ahmad’s case should be among those cases. He should not be penalized for being in a group that the United States welcomed as an ally.

Congress should also ensure enough U.S. visas for other Iraqis who have helped U.S. forces. Of the 5,300 translators who work with U.S. troops, 648 have special visas pending.