(COLUMBUS, OH, 11/29/2021) – A Muslim-American family has been reunited thanks to a successful lawsuit by the Ohio office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) after two and a half years of visa delays.
Sarah and her husband Malek reunited earlier this month after a long and painful forced separation imposed on them by the U.S. Department of State. The family’s reunion was only possible after CAIR-Ohio filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Beirut for their delays in processing Malek’s visa.
The couple met in 2016 and quickly fell in love. They maintained a long-distance courtship for three years and then got married in 2019. They planned to start their life in the U.S. and filed the necessary paperwork within a month of the wedding.
According to Congress, visa applications for immediate relatives should be processed within 30 days. Sarah and Malek were forced to wait for over 800 days.
Those 800-plus days were filled with innumerable difficulties for the family. COVID hit, but Sarah still attempted to see her husband when possible. Sarah was visiting Malek in Beirut in August 2020 when a massive explosion rocked the entire city, killing hundreds. For most of her pregnancy, Sarah carried their first child alone.
The couple continued to contact the Beirut Embassy to no avail. Sarah reached out in desperation to CAIR-Ohio, hoping to bring her husband home. CAIR-Ohio filed suit in June.
Finally, after years of delay and months of litigation, Malek received his visa early in November. He flew home to Sarah the next day.
In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Romin Iqbal, Esq. said:
“Visa delays are a family separation issue and must be fought against. Muslim American families should not be forced to file lawsuits to obtain their basic immigration rights. We are delighted to reunite Sarah and Malek, and wish them the very best as they start their life together with their child.”
Muslims facing similar delays are urged to contact CAIR-Ohio for assistance by filing an incident report online.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT:CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Romin Iqbal, Esq. 614-783-7953, riqbal@cair.com614-401-6692, mabidi@cair.com
