The List Project Blog

The Mother of All Lists

2008-09-05T11:37:00.004-04:00

Since Kirk Johnson turned my life into his List, I started to organize everything, even my feelings in Lists (:Here I wanted to share with you some of my lists.

I know that I am still a resident in the US, but for many reasons I already feel like an American, here are some of the reasons to why I think anyone should feel an American , IF:

1- The Greek lady in your area Dinner knows how you like your eggs and bacon in the morning

2-Someone in your neighborhood waits for the time you come back from work to smile at you, everyday.

3-You feel angry if Aljazeera Channel tries to criticize the US, although deep inside you, you feel that they have a point in some issues.

4-You shout Wahoooo when the US team marshes in the Olympics with a refugee from Darfur originally, is carrying the flag in Beijing.

5-You go to the Irish Pub in your area and enjoy listening to Uncle Tim, singing in a loud voice while he is drunk and you clap even if deep inside you, you are singing ( killing me softly with his songs…killing me softly).

6-You have many friends who are Americans, and one of them makes your heart pump more blood into your body, when you meet together ( ; .

7- You pay third of your salary as taxes
and the List goes on and on ..................................

So since I have grown up such a feeling that I am an American, now let me tell you MY LIST of what makes me love the idea that I am an American. Some of the many reasons are:

1- I know no one can arrest me and put me in jail to be tortured unless I do something wrong and even then no one will torture me or beat me with wooden racks.

2- Americans unlike other nations don’t ask refugees, when you will go back to your country, we hate refugees! Instead they tell you: Welcome to America! We are happy that you are safe here.

3- I know that when I go to the hospital, doctors will not see me as Sunni or Shiite, or Muslim, or … they see me as a HUMAN, and I get the best medical treatment regardless of my origin.

4- No body has the right to intervene in my personal life as long as I didn’t hurt them, I can do whatever I want as long as it’s legal without worrying about the neighborhood making me the chewing gum for their gossips.

And The List goes on and on …I even dream about Lists, oh my God lists everywhere, I should List a List for my Lists , loll

Housekeeping and Updates

2008-09-01T17:23:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the silence on our end, friends! We are currently assembling a large roster of volunteers and colleagues who will be posting more regularly, about the crisis, our work, and the road ahead. Stay tuned for some new voices here.

In the meantime, some worthwhile links:

Prime Minister Maliki has been engaging in some political theatrics on the refugee issue lately, sending his personal jet to Cairo to fly Iraqis back to Baghdad, where the cameras await. So far, a few hundred Iraqis have returned, but the remainder of Egypt's estimated 70,000 Iraqis haven't taken him up on his offer. The UNCHR recently reported that the overwhelming majority of Iraqis (94%) do not have plans to return home anytime soon. While we at the List Project believe that resettlement is NOT an option for the millions that have been displaced (indeed, these Iraqis need to be able to return to Iraq one day), the Iraqis who are running for their lives because they helped us feel as though the stain of collaboration is long-lasting.
For a sanguine analysis on the crisis, please read Elizabeth Ferris' most recent Brookings paper: "The Looming Crisis: Displacement and Security in Iraq." Ferris recently discussed her research with List Project founder Kirk Johnson in a Brookings event in late August.
The List Project's grassroots efforts are taking shape at n etroot s.the listproject.org. In its first month, over 500 Americans across the country signed up and are now joining or creating chapters nearby. Chapters can choose from a range of meaningful activities through which they can start taking ownership on this critical issue: some are raising funds for recently-resettled Iraqi families, others are undertaking advocacy efforts to teach other citizens about our obligation to these Iraqis, others are donating to the List Kids, which sends regular care packages to the children of recently-arrived Iraqi families.

We hope to see you all on Netroots, where you can always catch the most up-to-date news on the Project, meet hundreds (soon to be thousands, we anticipate!) of other Americans who care about our moral obligation to U.S.-affiliated Iraqis, and take charge of the issue yourself!

The List Project Team

PBS Documentary on Iraq Examines a "Refugee Crisis Without Refugee Camps"

2008-08-19T21:29:00.005-04:00

Beginning tonight, PBS will examine the plight of Iraqi refugees through a new documentary series entitled, "Wide Angle: Iraqi Exodus." Experienced newsman Aaron Brown anchors the program, which focuses on a variety of issues including: the lack of effective foreign government intervention; longterm ramifications that the crisis will have on the region; and common yet poignant stories of Iraqis who have struggled after being forced to flee for their lives.

The IVRAA : Veterans seek to help

2008-08-05T22:19:00.004-04:00

An interesting piece over at the Huffington post by journalist Karin Zeitvogel dealing with another organization who seeks to bring solace to iraqi refugees, the IVRAA . Now, as I type, Luis Montalvan and Tyler Boudreau , former Captains in the United States Army and the United States Marine corps respectively, creators of the recently formed Iraqi Veteran's Refugee Aid Association, have undertaken a trip to Jordan in order to determine the scope of these refugees and their plight, and to seek to lend a helping hand.

As relayed by Zeitvogel, the press officer on this undertaking, in their first day of meetings, they have already encountered Iraqis who continue to be burdened by the bureaucratic system that they entered into when they volunteered to help in the United States:

"The day started with a meeting with two brothers, Hamza and Ali, who left Iraq just over two years ago with nothing more than their savings and the irreplaceable treasure of their family: their father, sister and her two sons, Ali's wife, and themselves.

Both brothers have been kicking their heels in Amman ever since, awaiting word about whether or not they will be given leave to emigrate to the United States. Ali should have been fast-tracked and given priority under the US policy of direct access, which eases the application process for those who worked for the Americans during the war. But he hasn't been, partly because he stepped up to the plate before there were official badges and IDs that identified someone as having worked with the Americans. Those badges are like gold dust these days, giving the bearer the right to a new life, far away from the country they loved and still love, Iraq, but to which they cannot return since they have been branded enemy collaborators by some of their compatriots.

So Ali simply whiles away the days, staying at home so he isn't picked up by the Jordanian police, watching what's left of his life slink away but never really giving up on the idea that he will, one day, make it to the US.

Hamza, on the other hand, learned recently that his application to emigrate to the United States has been accepted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and he is simply waiting for the date when he can fly out to start his new life in America."

It is so sad to see these continual nightmares where people are struggling to get by, and most certainly should be granted access to the safety of the United States, and are not. Yet it it also great to see the compassion of soldiers and statesmen, and even ordinary citizens who continue to push with all their might to make this story a headline, until these refugees are given the rights they are entitled to, and until the federal government repays them for their brave actions in helping the United States.

check out the entire post, and contribute to the IVRAA

News: Kennedy Legislation Implementation

2008-07-25T11:18:00.003-04:00

The Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act, which established in-country processing and 5,000 special visas for Iraqis working for US army or government, recently implemented the special visa program. Although the bill became law this past January, legal wrangling and the trademark turtle pace of change within the immigration bureaucracy had stalled the special visa program. The fact that it took about five months to implement the visa program and about four months to implement in-country processing reveals that our government does not recognize the immediacy of the threats against our Iraqi allies.

For an overview, The New York Times has the story:

The program will allow 5,000 Iraqis to go to the United States for each of the next five years. Each person can take immediate family members, who include spouses and children. More distant relatives, including siblings, parents and grandchildren, can apply under another program.

A second program, also established in January, whose rules were announced about six weeks ago, allows Iraqi employees of American nonprofit organizations, media companies and contractors to apply directly for refugee status instead of waiting for a referral from the United Nations. Like the special immigrant visa program, they can apply in Iraq and will be given support initially in the United States. Technically, anyone who qualifies will be accepted, State Department officials said.

Hardships in Finding jobs in Denmark

2008-07-20T01:44:00.004-04:00

In spite of being qualified, the Iraqi refugees in Denmark have been going through a hard time in finding jobs, China View reported.

STCKHOLM, July 18 (Xinhua) -- About 100 Iraqi interpreters and aid workers granted asylum in Denmark last year are choosing to return to Iraq due to their unemployment, according to reports reaching here from Copenhagen Friday.
The Iraqis, who had worked for the Danish military in Iraq, arrived in Denmark with their families last July when the army withdrew its troops.
After one year in Denmark only a handful of the interpreters, 13 of whom are engineers, have found work, reported Danish public broadcaster DR, adding that Iraqi refugees are choosing an uncertain life in Iraq over unemployment in Denmark.
"Companies are currently experiencing a lack of qualified labor, including engineers, and it was believed that they would find work quickly. But despite being highly qualified and speaking fluent English, only one of the Iraqi engineers has found a job," said Treine Schou Tinborg, president of the National Association of Engineers (IDA).

Iraqi Refugees, Enemies?

2008-07-12T12:26:00.003-04:00

It is really sad to see an American think of an Iraqi refugee as an enemy. This is either ignorance or simple hatred or maybe both. Iraqis who had suffered under Saddam had suffered even more when the U.S. invaded and occupied their country. Hundreds of thousands were kidnapped, tortured, beheaded, displaced and even buried alive in mass graves since the war started five years ago. And for what? For a war based on lies and private interests. And yet, there is this American woman named Bertha Avila from Marysville who is shocked to see Iraqis, whose lives were destroyed because of her country, being resettled and compensated for what they lost in Iraq.

What Bertha doesn't seem to understand or maybe doesn't seem to want to understand is that once upon a time those Iraqis had a relatively normal life compared to their destroyed life after her country invaded theirs. It is the least thing the U.S. could do to atone itself for what it did to those people's lives. Those were doctors, engineers, teachers, dentists, … etc. They are not enemies; they are the remaining seeds of a better future that for a while seemed dim.

Read Bertha's letter below:

Letter: Why is U.S. aiding Iraqi refugees?

The Department of Homeland Security has recently allowed refugees from Iraq to settle in our country through a program called U.S. Refugee Admission Program, and as of June 4, 6,480 Iraqis have been admitted into the USA and an additional 27,940 Iraqis referred to DHS for interviews, with approvals growing each day.
Iraq was considered a global terrorist threat. We go to war to prevent terrorism and then we turn around and welcome their displaced citizens into this country giving them special visas and loans to travel and all the benefits such as welfare, food and medical services while our own government is facing a recession?
I am puzzled and can't understand the fairness of this country. One day U.S. sons and daughters fighting in this bloody war will come home to be neighbors with the sons and daughters of the of the enemy enjoying the benefits they will only hope for.
Go to www.USCIS.gov and read all about this program.
Bertha Avila
Marysville

Failed Responsibility : The International Crisis Group details Iraqi Refugee Struggle

2008-07-12T01:35:00.005-04:00

The International Crisis Group, a stellar organization which provides analysis and recommendations on current issues in foreign affairs, has recently issued a report detailing Iraqi Refugees (download the 46 page report here) and the way in which they have been neglected by governments both foreign and domestic, most notably the United States.

The report begins by stating the current statistics of refugees. It states that "Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis became displaced since 2005, with a significant spike after the Samarra
shrine bombing in February 2006. Up to five million Iraqis – nearly one in five(my italics) – are believed to have deserted their homes in a bid to find safety and security. About half took refuge as internally displaced persons (IDPs), either in the Kurdistan region, which has remained
peaceful, or in any other place within the country that was relatively sheltered from violence.
The other half – those who could afford both the journey and upfront costs – fled as refugees to neighboring countries, especially Jordan and Syria.

The report details their struggles: lack of funds, a turn to crime for the most desperate, and more importantly a lack of aid from their fellow Arab countries( who in some cases simply cannot provide it) as well as the rest of the international community, most notably the United States.

Referring to the U.S. it states that "Although it has contributed more than most, the U.S., whose policies unleashed the chaos that spawned the outflow, has clearly failed in its own
responsibilities: downplaying the issue, providing far less assistance to host countries than needed and admitting to its own shores merely a trickle of refugees and only after unprecedented security checks to which asylum seekers from other nations are not subjected."

The report assesses that although there have been improvements in the past months it is unlikely that many refugees will return, therefore not diminishing the crisis. The fact is most don't have much to return to.

The end of the executive summary leaves us with a sobering view: "This is a humanitarian tragedy, but it is more than that. Rich in oil, Iraq today is bankrupt in terms of human resources. It will take decades to recover and rebuild. Because most refugees come from what used to be the (largely secular) middle class, their flight has further impoverished Iraq and potentially deprived it of its professional stratum for a decade or more."

They insist that "The period of exile should be used to teach refugees new skills to facilitate their eventual social reintegration and contribution. There is every reason to assist host countries in that endeavour." There are other insightful recommendations For Iraq and the governments of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon which encourage a deep commitment to the assistance of these refugees.

To the U.S. Government it proposes:
"8. Assume its responsibilities toward Iraqi citizens
turned refugees as a result of the conflict by:
(a) disconnecting the refugee issue from other
political considerations and making financial
support to refugees in Syria consistent with the
level of support extended to those in Jordan;
(b) exerting pressure on and providing assistance
to the Iraqi government to assume its responsibilities
as described above;
(c) stepping up the resettlement of Iraqis interviewed
successfully by the Department of
Homeland Security, starting with those found
especially vulnerable under UNHCR criteria
and those who worked for the U.S. military
or companies, such as translators; (again my italics)
(d) removing security checks and requirements
for Iraqi asylum seekers that exceed existing
standard procedures and making available
more and better functioning U.S. contact offices
to process asylum claims throughout
Iraq, where possible; and
(e) initiating cooperation programs with host countries
regarding civil service training, scholarships
and exchange agreements with foreign
universities."

This is a valuable framework with which to work with and begin to pressure Congress, the Depts. of State and Homeland Security, as well as the white house. Political rifts should not cause people to suffer, and it is clear that the U.S. has a moral obligation to these Iraqis. The faster we start working to expedite the process, the better.

Please read the report in it entirety, as it provides many insights and is a great analysis of the current situation.

News: Summary of the Amnesty International Report

2008-07-07T23:21:00.003-04:00

Amnesty International recently released a report on Iraq refugees entitled, “Rhetoric and Reality: Iraqi Refugee Crisis.” The report is an overview of the refugee crisis and a devastating critique of its management. Below is a short summary of some of the salient points from the 70-page report that can be accessed here.

Syria

Before October 2007, Iraqi passage into Syria was not limited but since then, Syria implemented a visa system where only certain groups of Iraqis are eligible. Of those eligible for a visa include academics, Iraqis attending Syrian schools, Iraqis in need of medical attention in Syrian hospitals, and those who have commercial interests in Syria. The report indicates that during the implementation of the new visa scheme, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought the closure of the border altogether given the embarrassment to his government of refugees’ flight from Iraq.

It remains that Iraqis in Syria are barred by law from obtaining employment. The report highlights the prevalence of child labor as young children do menial jobs, such as selling chewing gum, instead of attending school.

The report also elucidates the health situation:

As a result of an agreement between UNHCR and the Syrian Ministry of Health, Iraqis registered with UNHCR who are seriously ill can receive treatment, including surgical operations, if they contribute financially, at clinics run by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. However, this option not open to many as most Iraqis are not registered with the UNHCR and the financial contribution can be prohibitive. While UNHCR does provide some assistance to unregistered Iraqis who are ill, its ability to do so remains limited because of the low level of on-going funding.

Jordan

Jordan, too, has imposed new visa restrictions as of May. While less restrictive than the Syrian system, Jordan requires visas for Iraqis seeking to enter the country. For those already in Jordan, many lack necessary residency permits. The Jordanian government imposes heavy fines, $761 USD per day for those who overstay the visa. As in Syria, Iraqis in Jordan are barred from working are forced to deplete their life savings.

The report comments on the health of Iraqi refugee in Jordan:

Formally, Iraqi refugee have access to basic emergency health care. However, the limitation on further medical treatment, including limited access to specialist services, means there is a significant shortfall between what is needed and what is provided.

An Iraqi family in Amman, Jordan. Courtesy of UNHCR.

Lebanon

In February 2008, the Lebanese government announced a program of regularization for Iraqi refugees, all of whom where deemed illegal before that point. Consequently, many were imprisoned and released to coerce them back to Iraq. Thankfully, the government has implemented a program to give Iraqi refugees work/residency permits in February. However, a fine of $630 USD is required as well as a sponsor who must deposit $1,000 USD. The report indicates that the UNHCR has taken up paying the $630 fine.

Egypt

Egypt implemented a tight visa scheme in 2006. Treatment in Egypt has been rough as Iraqi refugees are not allowed to work, not granted social services, and not allowed to attend public schools; as opposed to Jordan and Syria which allow Iraqi youth into public schools.

Refugee Return

As mentioned earlier, the Iraqi government seeks the return of Iraqis despite the dangers. The report indicates:

Two highly publicized officially organized return convoys from Syria took place in November 2007, one from Aleppo and the other from Damascus. Of the 30 families who returned and were interviewed by one of UNHCR's partners in Iraq, only a third could go back to their original homes, while two thirds became internally displaced. Some of the returnees found their property looted, occupied or destroyed. In addition, the return incentive of around US $1,000 promised by the Iraqi government has yet to be received by the returnees according to reports.

Material Support Laws

A significant impediment to resettlement in the US, as the report acknowledges, are the material support for terrorist organization laws. These regulations, enhanced by the Patriot Act, refuse entry to anyone who has materially supported a terrorist organization. In the case of Iraqi refugees, those who have paid ransom to their loved ones’ kidnappers are oft found in contravention of these material support bars. Read Kirk Johnson’s op-ed about material support laws here and about the denial of permanent residency to a loyal Iraqi interpreter here. While there are waivers now for such cases, they are evaluated on a case by case basis while the overly broad law remains intact.

News Roundup: Vietnamese Refugees, Aid in Jordan, Photography

2008-07-05T12:28:00.007-04:00

In The Moderate Voice, Dorian De Wind writes about the contrast between the American response to Vietnamese refugees and Iraqi ones. He writes:

America and Americans opened up their hearts and arms to this “first wave” of Vietnamese refugees. (Hundreds of thousands of additional Vietnamese would be given refuge in our country during the next 10 years.) Within a few months the refugees were resettled in communities throughout the U.S. Thousands were graciously welcomed by Americans into their own homes; thousands more were “sponsored” by social and welfare organizations and provided with jobs. The vast majority would become hard-working, productive, loyal and grateful residents of our country.

A model, indeed, for what the US response to the current Iraqi refugee crisis could be.

The Christian Science Monitor has recently reported about the aid given to the Jordanian government to boost their resources to provide services to its Iraqi refugee population. According to the article, the UNHCR gave 61% of its operational budget to Jordan in 2007. For example, the UNHCR gave $10 million to the Jordanian education ministry, the European Community gave $39 million, and USAID gave $8 million to support the education of Iraqi refugees. But the article notes the following:

But for the 2007-08 school year, fewer than 20,000 Iraqi students were enrolled in the public schools. While the yearly cost of educating a student was estimated by the government at about $800 a year, Jordan received more than $2,100 in aid for every Iraqi student in 2007.

Another area where the Jordanian government has received aid for Iraqis is in the health sector. The article relates:

UNHCR gave another $10 million to Jordan's Health Ministry in 2007. Given this support, Jordan said Iraqis could get primary healthcare in public hospitals at low fees. Many of the poorest still go to nongovernmental clinics run by UNHCR's partners, where care is free.

What the article implies is that this aid that is ostensibly for Iraqi refugees is ending up benefiting the Jordanian ministries. Countries that welcome Iraqi refugees ought to be helped with the burden this population presents on the country's resources but the aid given also must be carefully monitored. Given that the UNHCR is suffering from serious shortfalls in funding from international donor countries, it ought to be very discriminate about where and how its aid is used.

Furthermore, a new photography book entitled, Silent Exodus: Portraits of Iraqi Refugees in Exile, will come out in October, 2008. The photographer, Zalmai, documented the lives of Iraqis in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon and the introduction is written by Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. A photograph from the collection is featured below.

News: TLP Launches Netroots and The List Kids

2008-07-02T14:21:00.002-04:00

The List Project recently launched two new exciting programs. The List Project: Netroots is an online social networking service that lets people make profiles and join with others to directly organize around the Iraqi refugee issue. By creating local chapters of The List Project, members can band together and opt to sponsor an Iraqi family and provide direct help such as organizing fundraisers, mobilizing the community to help, aiding the family with employment, and writing letters to local newspapers about the family and the refugee issue. There are other ways these groups can help including organizing events to raise awareness and helping The List Kids (see below). The Netroots project is less than a week old and already has nearly 200 members and 8 local chapters. Visit the Netroots website, sign up, and get involved with a local chapter or make your own. Also, the first 25 people to create a chapter that reaches 25 members will get a free List Project t-shirt!

You can also embed the following badge on your MySpace and Facebook profiles. Click here for more.

View my page on The List Project: Netroots

Furthermore, The List Kids was recently launched by enterprising 11 year old Sky Choi and serves to help the children of US-affiliated Iraqi families resettled in the US. The List Kids assembles care packages for these children consisting cards and gifts donated by generous individuals. People can make welcome cards, donate video game systems, donate gift cards from clothing stores, raise funds and more. Click here to learn what you can do. Two 9 year olds in Louisiana even donated money to The List Kids by selling lemonade. Please visit The List Kids website for more information and also check out Sky's List Kids blog.

News: Laura Bush Introduces Resettled Iraqi Refugee

2008-07-01T19:36:00.003-04:00

This past World Refugee Day, June 20th, First Lady Laura Bush spoke of America's accomplishments in resettling world refugees. Of the three refugees she presented, one was an Iraqi. According to Ken Bacon, the President of Refugee International, Mrs. Bush had this to say:

Zeyad Abdel Okhowa fled Iraq with his family after his work with the U.S. Embassy in Al Hillah put him in danger. Today, he works with the State Department's Digital Outreach Team to help improve understanding between Arab and Muslim communities and the United States.

Now, the question to present to Mrs. Bush and more relevantly, her husband, is why more Iraqis like Zeyad Abdel Okhowa are not resettled and for those who are, why are they not employed with the government to utilize their crucial knowledge of Iraq? Regardless, Ken Bacon rightly notes that the inclusion of Zeyad Abdel Okhowa is significant given the White House's silence on the Iraqi refugee crisis.

TLP in the News: American Bar Association Journal Features TLP's Partnering Law Firms

2008-06-29T20:37:00.005-04:00

The latest issue of the American Bar Association Journal has a cover story on Iraqi refugees and their advocates. The excellent article discusses the resettlement process with TLP's partnering law firms, Proskauer Rose, Holland and Knight, and Mayer Brown. Kirk Johnson, TLP's founder, is also interviewed.

Reading the article affirms the terribly long and arduous process for resettlement; a process that is rife with danger. The article mentions numerous pitfalls including being abducted by state security forces while in exile, the prohibitions on employment in Syria, and of course, the murderous crimes of anti-US militias.

Chris Nugent and Eric Blinderman, attorneys working for Iraqis on the list with the firms of Holland and Knight and Proskauer Rose respectively, related the difficulties of representing targeted Iraqis:

Nugent and Blinderman counsel Iraqis by cell and e-mail, sometimes using code in case a militia is monitoring a refugee’s communications. A militia or gang can get the hardware to trace communications for about $50,000.

While militias are often the main reason US-affiliated Iraqis seek resettlement, other obstacles stand between a visa and permanent exile. "Mike," a translator for the US Army who is currently on the list, discussed the negative stigma pinned to those who helped the US:

Mike says his Syrian UNHCR interviewer handed him a folder emblazoned with “Not eligible to resettle” for his paperwork. The interviewer was scornful of Mike’s work with Americans. Other refugees on Johnson’s list have accused UNHCR’s Syrian staffers of mocking Iraqi refugees as “America’s dogs” and, more seriously, of leaking Iraqi refugees’ whereabouts to militias.

For Iraqis who have worked for the US, not only are their lives at stake, but they are treated with contempt by the very people who are their to help them. In this seemingly friend-less situation, the tireless work of the lawyers, pro-staff, law students, case managers, and everyone else who advocates for these refugees, is even more crucial. Rarely have there been so many legal professionals dedicating so many hours to help with a specific humanitarian issue and their efforts are worth celebrating as they get closer to resettling the hundredth person from the list.

Dan Rather to detail struggle of Iraqi Refugees

2008-06-27T01:31:00.002-04:00

In a Press release from HDnet(via the Biloxi Sun Herald), who airs the DAN RATHER REPORT,
Rather will detail an interesting angle in the struggle that Iraqi Refugees, specifically those who helped the US government, are having to endure in order to get to the United States:

" This Tuesday's "Dan Rather Reports" tells the story of how hundreds of refugees from Iraq who were forced to pay ransom to kidnappers are stuck in an undetermined vacuum, with faltering hopes of getting out of the Middle East. The very reason for their flight, may now be what is keeping them from gaining refugee status in the United States. Because by paying ransom to kidnappers, the U.S. says, they may also have supported terrorism and fueled the insurgency."

The report will appear on July 1st and will subsequently be displayed to watch online @
http://www.hd.net/danrather.html

News: Senior US Diplomat Meets with Syria Regarding Iraqi Refugees

2008-06-25T22:56:00.004-04:00

According to the International Herald Tribune, the State Department's senior coordinator for Iraqi refugees, James Foley, met with Syria's foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, to discuss the Iraqi refugee situation in Syria. Such high level diplomatic contacts are a positive sign since contacts between the US and Syria are rare given their mutual animosities and criticisms. For example, consider the following quote by TLP's founder, Kirk Johnson from an interview with MSNBC:

...we’re letting Damascus dictate our abilities. The refugee process got frozen for seven months in Syria because Department of Homeland Security agents couldn’t get stamps in their passports.

Despite past hurdles, it is clear that Syria and the US need to coordinate their efforts since both have an incentive: Syria needs to lessen the burden upon its society due to its huge refugee population and for the US, pressure is building to resettle more Iraqis.

James Foley is part of the State Department and reports to Condoleezza Rice, who ostensibly reports to President Bush about the refugee crisis. However, certain refugee advocates on Capitol Hill, such as senators Ted Kennedy, Joseph Biden, Chuck Hagel, and Gordon Smith; believe this position within the State bureaucracy is not forceful enough. Last Friday, on World Refugee Day, these senators introduced a bill to establish a White House level position for the coordination of Iraqi refugee policies. The bill seeks to bring the issue onto a higher priority level than it already is now by creating this special position.

Survived Iraqi in Roanoke

2008-06-24T20:33:00.002-04:00

An Iraqi trying to save an American soldier is not something we usually see on American TV. However, on the World’s Refugee Day, a local Roanoke TV station broadcasted a report about an Iraqi refugee family that just came to the United States. Hayder Kharallah, an Iraqi interpreter who worked with American troops in Iraq, is one of the Iraqi political refugees who made it safe to the U.S. with his wife Deena and his son Ali.

Hayder’s leg was amputated below the knee after the convoy of U.S. soldiers he was interpreting for, took enemy fire-from three different directions. He was shot while he was trying to save a military Sergeant and a friend whom he was playing a video game with hours before they were attacked.

For more about Hayder and his survival story, click here.

TLP in the News: Council on Foreign Relations and Commentary Magazine

2008-06-23T20:31:00.003-04:00

Recently, the Council on Foreign Relations, a political think-tank, interviewed The List Project's Founder, Kirk Johnson. Click here to hear the podcast of the interview. In the interview, Johnson mentions the ever growing names on his list and relates how calls for help spike when an Iraqi working for the US is killed as torture to obtain the names of other Iraqi allies is frequently induced by the militants.

Furthermore, Max Boot had this to say in Commentary Magazine's blog:

Helping Iraqis who have helped us should not be a partisan issue. Senator Ted Kennedy, an opponent of the war, has sponsored legislation to increase the number of visas available and to expedite their processing in Baghdad. That’s a good start, but the prime imperative now is for President Bush to get off its keister and do more to help our allies. The administration’s foot-dragging in this regard is as inexplicable as it as counter-productive. We need some high level intervention to break through the bureaucratic logjam. If this requires personal attention from the commander-in-chief, so be it. We owe the Iraqis nothing less.

Boot's observation of the non-partisan nature of this issue is completely correct. He notes that Kennedy is against the Iraq War and the co-sponsors of that legislation that he so forcefully promoted and got enacted, speaks volumes about the true nature of the issue. Republican senators Susan Collins, Chuck Hagel, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, George Voinovich, and hawkish independent Joe Lieberman all co-sponsored the Kennedy legislation. Indeed, resettling Iraqi allies is not in the narrow domain of any ideology or political party but transcends them thereby finding advocates from all avenues of our multifacted society.

Welcoming Iraqi Refugees in the City of Brotherly Love

2008-06-22T20:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday (June 21st) I was invited to speak at the first-of-its-kind conference in the City of Brotherly Love. The Philadelphia-held conference was an open-borders event between the newly arrived Iraqi refugees to the Philadelphia area and their new American friends and neighbors.

The conference coincided with the June 20th World Refugee Day and was held by one of Philadelphia’s oldest non-profit organization, the Nationalities Service Center. Since it was founded in 1921, NSC made great achievements in terms of helping refugees from all over the world. It provides legal, social and educational services to immigrants, refugees, limited and/or non-English speakers.

The conference which was called “Welcoming Iraqi Families, Celebrating Iraqi Culture” was a step a great step NSC chose to take in order to build bridges between the American and Iraqi cultures. People from the two countries interacted and shared stories about their homelands. One of the Iraqi refugees, an artist, donated two paintings representing images from his home country, attracting a great admiration by the American Philadelphians who rarely get a chance to see Iraqi art. Others expressed their feelings about finding a new and safe home, and how they lived in their homeland before, during and after the war.

Most, if not all, of the Iraqis who attended the event were professionals who once had decent jobs in Iraq. They were university professors, doctors, artists, computer engineers, interpreters, and teachers. They shared their stories in a very emotional way, talking about how they were threatened and how they lost friends, family members, and relatives because of their connection either with the United States or basically their professions.

I had the opportunity to speak about my experience as former Washington Post correspondent who worked in an extremely dangerous environment and how I survived death three times while working in war-torn Baghdad. The event also included speakers from the American Friends Service Committee, a non-profit that carries out service, development, social justice, and peace programs throughout the world. Raed Jarrar, AFSC’s Iraq Consultant, provided the audience with comprehensive details about the roots of violence in Iraq and why the world witnessed its highest refugee crisis since 1948. Also, AFSC’s Peter Lems talked about activities and solidarity for the new Philadelphians.

During the lunch break, the attendees had the chance to attend a photo gallery. The photos presented were of Iraqis in different periods, starting from the few weeks that preceded the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and were taken by Linda Panetta, a brilliant professional war and crises photographer, who had been to Iraq several times and who has just come back from the Gaza Strip where she documented the humanitarian crisis the Gazans are going through in photos. The photos included mostly women and children, especially those affected directly by the war, those who were seen wounded in hospitals and those who lived miserably as squatters in former government buildings due to the soaring unemployment rate in Iraq.

While speaking with Linda, I was asked to help some of the organizers to help translate something to the Iraqi children who were all gathering around a long rectangular table, holding colorful crayons and painting things they love. I helped the organizers tell the children to draw what they know of Iraq and how they see it in their dreams. The drawings that were finally posted on wooden stands were chilling. They were of children playing, others dancing, and most of them included the well-painted Iraqi flag. A five-year-old girl told me that she was drawing herself, “a beautiful, young girl playing in Iraq.” Her words chilled my entire spine. I thought if she had any idea where she was and if she would ever be able to see Iraq again.

It was an amazing feeling to see how Iraqis and Americans were welcoming each other and how bridges became very close and shorter than one would imagine. When William Penn named Philadelphia with its name in 1682, he knew that this city would become a melting point for many different cultures. Choosing a Greek name like ‘Philadelphia’ (meaning ‘the one who loves his brother’) was a perfect fit. Indeed, Philly is the City of Brotherly Love.

TLP's Birthday on World Refugee Day

2008-06-20T12:33:00.006-04:00

Today, on World Refugee Day, The List Project officially turns one year old.

Much has transpired in the world of Iraqi refugees this past year including setbacks such as forced deportations in Britain and Sweden, visa restrictions in Jordan and Syria, and the frustratingly slow pace of resettlement in the US. In countries that have been generous in accepting Iraqi refugees, entrance restrictions have been tightened.

Furthermore, news stories have detailed the exploitation of Iraqis in Syria as young girls are forced into prostitution. Barred from obtaining employment, Iraqis in Syria and Jordan spend their savings on the cost of living and have no option but to work secretly and in the underground economy.

We have also heard of the glacial pace of US admittances and the bureaucratic nature of the resettlement process fraught with multiple interviews, long waiting periods, and lack of resources. The fortunate ones who are resettled in the US often find menial jobs at restaurants and hotels meager in compensation as the lure of returning to Iraq for a bigger pay-check, at the risk of death, remains.

However, notable advancements, too, have been made that inspire hope. The Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act was enacted into law by the US government and has increased special visas for Iraqis directly working with the military forces to 5,000 a year for five years. The act has also established the much needed in-country processing procedure so Iraqis need not become exiles in Syria or Jordan or elsewhere just to apply for resettlement in the US. So far, The List Project has resettled over 90 Iraqis in the US but the list keeps growing and currently contains about 1,000 names.

More needs to be done and the most immediate, beneficial, and obvious solution for the Iraqi allies problem is a humanitarian airlift. Denmark has airlifted its Iraqi allies and Britain proposed to do the same. At the end of the Vietnam War, the US resettled over 100,000 Vietnamese refugees; and the 1990s saw the airlift of thousands of Kurdish allies and Kosovar refugees. Despite talk about increased rates per month of Iraqi resettlement, the US can airlift its allies in immediate danger at very little cost compared with the entire Iraqi venture in total. If only there was motivation from the administration to do so.

TLP in the news: Washington Post Article on Congressional Testimony

2008-06-16T22:29:00.004-04:00

Walter Pincus featured TLP in a Washington Post article on Monday. Pincus discussed the struggles of streamlining the bureaucratic process to bring over Iraqi refugees despite maximum effort that is being expended. Congressional testimony from Wednesday's hearing in which TLP's Kirk Johnson and Iraqi refugees detailed frustrations of the process was highlighted:

Ibrahim [an Iraqi refugee who testified] said a new program, passed this year by Congress, opened up processing in Baghdad instead of requiring people to get to Syria or Jordan to be interviewed.

But, he added, the State Department coordinators in Baghdad are understaffed, don't have enough resources to process applications and require applicants to come inside the Green Zone -- though there are not enough staff members to escort them through checkpoints.

"This has led to a Catch-22. A mechanism for people to escape Iraq has been created, but only those with sufficient connections to enter the Green Zone can take advantage of it," he said.

TLP commends the Washington Post for bringing attention to the issue and would like to recognize the efforts of the small State department team working to process Iraqis through the Baghdad Embassy. As Johnson emphasized in his congressional testimony on Wednesday:

We have had very welcome and positive interaction...with the recently arrived refugee coordinator at the Baghdad embassy, who has been tasked with implementing the Kennedy legislation instruction to begin in-country processing for U.S. affiliated Iraqis.

Her efforts, and those of the very small team working with her, are without question commendable. We must not forget the harrowing circumstances in which they labor. Their laudable work on the ground, however, has not been accorded the resources necessary to successfully implement this legislation.

Furthermore, TLP has learned that the embassy's refugee coordinator and her the team has recently taken concrete steps to overcome some of the logistical pitfalls faced by Iraqis seeking interviews.

In his testimony, Johnson went on to clarify where the responsibility lies for effectively streamlining a successful processing effort:

[T]he State Department needs access, logistics and support to help the Iraqis that are in-country....Congress has expressed its intent. You guys have been trying to address this issue, but I think the responsibility relies with the president...I can't come to any other conclusion that this is a low priority or a non-priority from the White House. It's been a priority for Congress, but in the absence of any word from the president on this, I think that the bureaucracies don't have the force and the will from the president to act.

Visit the White House website and ask why nothing has been done or even said on an issue that affects our national security, moral standing, and leadership role in the world.

Towards Successful Jobs

2008-06-13T12:26:00.005-04:00

They worked hard and sacrificed a lot. They spent days, months and years working to help the American mission succeed in Iraq. They were intimidated, but were very persistent to continue their struggle against humanity enemies. But life is too short to lose. Eventually, they had to leave. Their friends were killed, burned, and tortured and their heads were supposed to be next. Their crime, insurgents believe, was helping the “evil” Americans.

These are the Iraqi employees who worked as translators, interpreters, project managers and cultural advisors to serve the U.S. government and its contractors in Iraq.

For some time, these Iraqis believed they were trapped and abandoned and their fate would be like that of their slaughtered friends and colleagues. But when The List Project reached out to them, these locked doors were opened and their lives were finally spared when they made it safe to America, after a long bureaucratic process.

Each one of these Iraqis had a story, if not several ones. Each witnessed what no human being on earth could ever imagine. I was there. I was in their shoes and know how it feels to work day and night in the midst of that horror.

Now, they are in America starting a new life. Their first step is finding a job. And here the hands were extended to them.

Last weekend, The List Project, Upwardly Global and Manpower Inc . collaborated to offer a Career Summit, the first-of-its-kind career orientation workshop for 50 Iraqi refugees at Holland & Knight and Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

Once resettled, the Iraqi refugees face many challenges. One of the most difficult one is often finding themselves unemployed and in need of assistance. In the Career Summit, Upwardly Global helped the highly-skilled Iraqis, refugees and asylees advising them of how to reclaim their careers in the United States. The two-day workshop they held included sessions on résumé writing, interviewing techniques and developing networking skills. Manpower Inc. invited employers in the Washington, D.C. area to learn about the wealth of experience and skills these Iraqi professionals bring to the greater D.C.-area labor market. Employers and other invited guests had the opportunity to meet Iraqi job seekers, and discuss their unique expertise and career interests.

The summit was more than a success. Participants expressed their hope and were very happy to see such an effort being made for them to be able to live and work in their new home.

TLP on the Hill

2008-06-12T23:06:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday, June 11, the congressional committee, the US Helsinki Commission chaired by Congressman Alcee Hastings and Senator Benjamin Cardin, hosted a hearing with The List Project. The testimony is available here and below are select quotations.

In reference to the personnel at the new in-country processing facility, enacted by the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act, founder of The List Project, Kirk Johnson, had this to say:

Their laudable work on the ground, however, has not been accorded the resources necessary to successfully implement this legislation. Iraqis are granted interviews but accessing those interviews is a Herculean challenge. Our lawyers have had to tap informal networks of colleagues working as contractors and federal employees in the Green Zone who do not work at the State Department but assist the process by escorting Iraqis through checkpoints and into the Palace. It is safe to say that without these connections that we retain due to our own service in Iraq, the Iraqis on the List would be unable to reach their interviews.

"Ibrahim," an Iraqi working for USAID who Kirk Johnson helped relocate to the US, had this to say:

USAID had Foreign Service National Committee that represented the Iraqi staff. I was a member of that committee. When the first Iraqis were killed because they worked for the United States, the FSN Committee asked the US to stop exposing us to needless dangers. For example, our identity was never protected. our photos and names were available on USAID websites, which anyone could access. Soon our photos, names and addresses were more public to Iraqis than the US effort to reconstruct Iraq.

Refugee Stories

2008-06-07T00:49:00.003-04:00

From The Ground Truth in Iraq blog:

In my personal experience, difficulties started from entering Jordan until one arrives to the decision of going back and facing death instead of staying and struggling without even knowing the reason why? At some point, the harsh conditions force you to self-pose a series of questions: why do Iraqis get this kind of treatment? Do they deserve it? Why? For Jordanians, Iraqis are traitors who deal with the Americans and they are followers of Iran. Still, why?

One can only see all those accusations popping up in the head of any Jordanian once they recognize the Iraqi accent. It made me feel guilty, it made me want to defend myself and forget all about me being the real victim of all that happened. During my stay in Jordan, I met a lot of Iraqis, acquaintances, friends in addition to lots of relatives. We all shared the feeling of isolation, abandonment and of hopelessness. Doors are never open to us.

Read more first hand accounts at The Ground Truth in Iraq blog.

News: An Increase in Iraqi Resettlement in the US

2008-06-05T21:44:00.004-04:00

The figures for Iraqis resettled in the US for the month of May indicate that numbers are on the rise. According to the Associated Press, James Foley, who is the State Department's director for Iraqi refugees, claims that the US resettled 1,114 in May and also claims that approximately another 8,000 are in the late stages of the process thereby signaling that the US may fulfill its promise to resettle 12,000 refugees by the end of September 2008.

While this is good news, the rate of acceptance has to further increase to meet the 12,000 goal. Furthermore, the 12,000 goal pales in comparison with the thousands who are at risk due to their work for the US and the millions of others who barely eek out an existence in neighboring countries or who are internally displaced.

Furthermore, The Washington Post reports on the initial progress of the new processing center in Baghdad. Until recently, Iraqis seeking to relocate to the US had to live in exile in Syria, Jordan, or Egypt to be processed by the US:

The office, which began interviewing applicants May 10, has already finished processing 80 embassy employees for departure, and the first two arrived in the United States this week, according to Ambassador James B. Foley

At the same time as these positive developments come to light, the US is also encouraging refugees to return to Iraq. According to Reuters, Foley lauded the Iraqi Prime Minister's plan of spending $195 million for refugee return but claimed it was not enough. Here is what Iraqi Christians resettled in Sweden think of repatriation:

News: An Increase in In-Country Processing

2008-06-01T20:55:00.002-04:00

For most Iraqis who seek resettlement in the US, the immigration process is riddled with inane bureaucratic rules. One of those rules required Iraqis to be processed in one of Iraq's neighboring countries rather than Iraq itself; a dangerous and inefficient venture for Iraqis whose lives are in danger.

George Packer reports that this US policy has now changed. Thanks to a bill sponsored by Ted Kennedy, the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act that passed in December 2007, resettlement cases for Iraqi allies are being held in the Green Zone. Packer relates:

I pushed for in-country processing when I was in Baghdad in early 2007 reporting for my article “Betrayed”; I was told by embassy officials that it wasn’t possible, without ever getting a persuasive explanation. It could have started a year ago, or two years ago. But I want to give credit where it’s due: if, in the coming year, a few thousand Iraqis who work with Americans won’t have to join their colleagues in the misery of exile before having a chance of being resettled here, then something good will have happened in this shameful story.