(COLUMBUS, OHIO – 2/14/2020) The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) announced today the filing of a federal lawsuit against the United States Department of State,
Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan on behalf of a U.S. citizen whose wife is stranded in Pakistan.
The couple has been married for over three years, but they have been forced to live apart while waiting for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to process the wife’s immigrant visa application. The U.S. Embassy repeatedly told the couple that they are unable to determine when the application will be approved, even though the couple has completed all the necessary steps required for receiving an immigrant visa.
After contacting the U.S. Embassy numerous times to no avail, the couple turned to CAIR-Ohio for help. On February 10, 2020, CAIR-Ohio filed a federal lawsuit to compel the adjudication of the immigrant visa application. “No U.S. citizens should be involuntarily separated from their immediate family for years. This forced separation causes real suffering to families,” said Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio Romin Iqbal. “Even though we have successfully filed numerous lawsuits to re-unite families, we believe that American citizens should not have to file lawsuits to get rights guaranteed under the law,” said Iqbal.
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.
