A 15 -year visa interview in course of led to heartbreak, hours after a brand new coverage of the US and the Iranian journey prohibition closed the door.
Flower Mound, Texas-A girl from northern Texas says that a long-awaited household reunion on the American soil was derailing this month after her brother and niece have been denied entry to the US beneath a brand new prohibition of journeys that affected Iranian residents.
Nika Reinecke clings to a single photograph taken in 1978. She is her mom, her sister, her older brother and her youthful brother, Alireza Zolghadri. It’s the final and solely photograph of the entire household collectively.
“They’ve spent nearly 50 years since we’ve been collectively as a household,” Reinecke mentioned. “They seek advice from the world for me.”
After fleeing from Iran earlier than the revolution on the finish of the 1970s, Reinecke lastly turned an American citizen and settled in Texas. She mentioned that each one her household lastly received residents, besides Alireza, who was left behind in Iran as soon as the US embassy closed there after a extensively lined hostage disaster.
“He’s the one one who was in Iran,” he mentioned. “We refer lots to one another as a result of we solely have one another.”
In 2010, Reinecke mentioned his brother and daughter started the method to to migrate to the US. After 15 years of ready, he mentioned, his case was lastly referred to as this month. They traveled to the US embassy in Abu Dhabi for his or her interview with Visa, however they have been informed that they have been not eligible emigrate.
“His denial is as a result of there’s a present government order,” he mentioned. Reinecke informed Wfaa that her brother was already informed the next: “In response to the manager order that entered into power on the time of the midnight immediately, it’s not eligible emigrate. And that was all,” Reinecke recalled.
She mentioned that her brother, who’s now 60 years previous, and her daughter stays in Limbo, trapped between a newly issued prohibition of journey from the US aimed toward Iran and rising tensions within the Center East between Iran and Israel, which has taken each entities to shoot missile bombings with one another.
“The battle between Iran and Israel, the scenario is extra critical,” Reinecke mentioned. “They’re trapped within the center. They simply must go together with what their governments give them.”
Reinecke mentioned that whereas they adopted the authorized immigration course of for 15 years, the consequence was nonetheless devastating.
“It was all the best way in line with the plan,” he mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t think about the mass of paperwork that should be offered for authorized immigration.”
Reinecke and his older brother got here to the US earlier than the revolution for varsity and have been in a position to receive a visa for his or her mom and youthful sister years later. As a result of navy service is usually necessary for all males between the ages of 18 and 49, his youthful brother Zolghadri wouldn’t have been eligible to request a visa till 2010 as a result of he was by no means voluntary or served.
She mentioned the scenario of her niece is particularly worrying.
“She would be the most affected as a result of she is a younger girl in Iran,” Reinecke mentioned. “There are only a few alternatives for a younger girl in Iran. If it passes greater than 21 years, it won’t be eligible to to migrate with him, and his approach to a visa turns into tougher.”
Reinecke mentioned he has written letters to American senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, in addition to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging them to think about an exception for the case of their household.
“My enchantment to Secretary Rubio, President Trump, anybody who’s listening, is to not punish folks as a result of acts of his authorities,” he mentioned.
After constructing a life in Texas and marrying a pilot from an airline, Reinecke mentioned he hoped that this summer time was the time when his entire household might lastly be united once more, this time for a second photograph.
“We have been considering that Julio could be the time period that we will all be collectively,” he mentioned. “We now have a room prepared for them. My mom is 80 years previous and we do not understand how lengthy it has left.”
Now, he says, that second is unsure as soon as once more.
