Ohio supporters of Syrian refugees urge Kasich to reverse opposition

posted on: Nov 30, 2015

For six years, Khalid Haider served the U.S. military as a linguist in his native Iraq. The pride he felt overshadowed the danger he and other translators constantly faced.

“Those days were glorious days,” Haider said. “We were doing something right. We were good people trying to do right.”

But now, as he works just as passionately with his Columbus immigration lawyer, Haider — who managed to leave Iraq five years ago — mostly feels anguish.

“I am handcuffed,” the 35-year-old said. “I cannot help my family.”

Haider’s parents and most of his siblings are trapped in refugee camps. Cousins and aunts and uncles have been killed, sometimes beheaded, by Islamic State militants. The rampage has claimed 14 family members on his father’s side and 34 of his mother’s relatives.

Source: www.dispatch.com