Street roots., December 20, 2013, Image 1

DECEMBER 20, 2013
roots
^ g e ts in th eir ow n countries, u n d
visa program intended to help
t/them has fallen under heavy fire
P H O T O B Y C H R IS T O P H E R O N S T O T T
O m ar Al-Kubaisi, an interpreter fo r U.S. forces in Iraq, now lives in Oregon thanks to a Special Im m igrant Visa, or S IV The S IV program is currently being overhauled in the Senate,
which could severely reduce the num ber o f visas offered in the future.
Al-Kubaisi and his family now live in Oregon
S T A F F W R IT E R
thanks to a government effort created to help fast
track the immigration process for Iraqis and
ifty-year-old Omar Al-Kubaisi says he wanted
Afghans who worked with the United States, as
to give his people a voice and help prevent
well as their loved ones. Known as Special
bloodshed. That’s why, in the spring of 2003,
he decided to work with the Americans after they Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, the effort to aid
interpreters and others who assisted the United
invaded his home, Iraq.
States has received strong bipartisan support
Al-Kubaisi was a professor of linguistics and
among lawmakers.
comparative literature in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, advocates say both the Iraqi and
He’s published numerous academic papers. He
Afghan Special Immigration Visa programs have
reads Latin. And along with Arabic he speaks
been poorly managed, lack transparency, and
Hebrew, French and English. He has a kind,
desperately need to be reformed. What’s more, the
studious face. “I always considered myself a
programs’ futures remain uncertain.
bookworm,” says Al-Kubaisi.
As unlikely a hero as he may be, when the time
came Al-Kubaisi stepped up. He helped the United
SIVs’ Near Death Experience
States confiscate weapons and rebuild the city of
The Iraqi SIV program was set to end on Dec.
Ramadi’s police force by acting as a mediator
31. However, a new 9-month extension for the
between U.S. forces and Iraqi leaders. But, this
program, as well as a number of reforms to it and
made him and his family targets.
the Afghan program are currently provisions on
“It was impossible to stay because of all the
the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a
threats from Al-Qaeda,” says Al-Kubaisi. They
budget bill that sets what the Department of
considered me a traitor and a spy.”
NATHAN GILLES
F
PDX
On Twitter at #MyHomePOX
Defense can and can’t spend money on. But it does
much more. This year’s bill sought to overhaul how
the military handles sexual assault, and that
nagging question: what to do with Guantanamo Bay
prisoners? The new rules it created for the SIV
programs is a mixed bag.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, just before lawmakers
adjourned for winter vacation, the House of
Representatives passed the NDAA. As this story
goes to print, the Senate hadn’t yet voted on the
bill.
If passed, the NDAA will reform both SIV
programs and extend the Iraqi program into next
year. However, the bill will also cut the number of
Iraqi visas from 25,000 down to a mere 2,500 over
the next nine months.
The NDAA also does nothing to extend the
Afghan SIV program. This was part of early bill
language, but is missing from the final draft.
Unless new legislation is introduced, the State
Department will stop issuing Afghan SIVs on Sept.
Unless new legislation
is introduced, the
State Department will
stop issuing Afghan
Special Immigrant
Visas on Sept. 30,
2014.
See V ISA S, page 4
Civic leaders ring
With honor and
The magic of
in on MyHomePDX:
humility
mother’s milk
How does supporting
people in poverty help
our community?
A l Jazeera America
journalist Paul Beban
writes about his
experience in the
Philippines
M om entum gains
in helping low-
income mothers
breastfeed their
children
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