Activist Asylum Victory

We wanted to share with you the wonderful news of an asylum victory of a young Syrian activist that came to National Alliance for Syria (NAFS) for legal support upon his arrival to the US.

NAFS connected him with our legal team, who took on his asylum case. Tarek* (name has been changed to protect client’s privacy) is an inspiring 22-year-old Syrian activist who came to the United States only months ago from his native city of Homs.

Being in the epicenter of the revolution, Homs, Tarek took to the streets to protest the atrocities of the Syrian regime’s crackdown against opposition activists, which has claimed the lives of more than 15,000 Syrians, including women and children, since March 2011. At the first protest he attended, Tarek was shot in the chest by security forces with a rubber bullet. Because the regime targets wounded protesters at hospitals, Tarek was forced to seek treatment at a secret medical clinic in a family home to have the bullet removed without anesthetic. Tarek continued to protest bravely while watching his neighborhood friends being detained and killed one by one insisting that his life was no more valuable than theirs.

When his family learned that he was wanted by the Syrian intelligence, Tarek fled and came to the United States. He was forced to leave his parents and sister behind. After he left, security forces came to his parent’s home searching for him. Although he was fortunate enough to escape, there are sadly thousands upon thousands of Syrians that have suffered a different fate.

We learned last week that Tarek will now be permitted to remain safely in the United States as an asylee and has begun his path toward permanent residence in this country. Working with Tarek has been a humbling experience and we could not be happier for the approval of his case.

If you know anyone that needs immigration guidance or support, please contact us for a free legal consultation.

Why Demand Columbia University Rescind the Acceptance of an Assad Aide?

Assad aide Shehrezad 'Sherry' Jaafari

We are all outraged that a media adviser to Bashar al-Assad has been accepted into Columbia University’s School of International Public Affairs (SIPA).

There is something terribly wrong, when an individual who has been advising Assad on how to ‘spin’ and cover up massacres by the regime is rewarded for their ‘experience’ and accepted into one of the prestigious educational institutions in America.

To make matters worse, through a referral/ recommendation from Barbara Walters for helping her setup the now infamous Assad interview back in December 2011.

There is a petition being circulated online calling for Columbia to rescind their acceptance – please sign and share widely!

If you are a Columbia student or alumni, please mention your affiliation in the petition. And also contact the administration directly - they want to hear from you!

This is a human issue – people of conscious, regardless of background are all taking part in this effort.

This is not about personally attacking a 22 year old ‘student’. Rather this is a political issue where one of Assad’s close aides, has the opportunity to personally benefit (per her own statement) from her experience in advising a dictator on how to cover up massacres.

Additionally, another major concern is the informer role she can play at Columbia, informing on fellow Syrian students who are pro-revolution, risking their safety and the safety of loved ones back in Syria who are at risk (Assad regime spying on Syrians in the US is a major issue).

Many have mentioned that the unscrupulous characters connected to dictatorships have always been accepted to US universities – This is not acceptable in a post-"Arab Spring" world. There was a status quo before March 15 2011, before Mohamad Bouazizi self-immolation in December 2010, were this behavior may have acceptable. Not anymore – we cannot reward those who have an active role in assisting the regimes to cover up their tracks.

Finally, if Columbia University is interested in helping Syrian students, there are many languishing here, who cannot afford to pay tuition, and can’t go home due to the regime onslaught.

Please sign the petition and share!

Thank you,

National Alliance for Syria 

Recent news coverage on the issue:

 CNN

 CNN (Arabic)
FOXNews.com

NYPOST

NYPOST ('Sherry' response)

CBS

GOTHAMIST

FOXDETROIT

ALLVOICES

DAILYMAIL

AL-ARABIYA  

 Syrian Expatriates Organization (SEO) Press Advisory 

Petition Link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/sipa-school-of-international-and-public-affairs-rescind-admission-of-assad-aide-sheherazade-jaafari-to-columbia-university

U.S. Immigration Options for Syrians

U.S. Immigration Options for Syrians

Learn about potential US immigration options for you and your loved ones. Download the PDF of the following FAQs here.
 

*Frequently Asked Questions*

• Q: Is it possible for Syrians living in Syria to travel to the United States?
• A: Despite the dangerous conditions in Syria, there is currently no special visa or emergency/humanitarian immigration option that allows Syrians to travel to the United States. Standard visas (such as tourist, business, or student visas) and family- and employment- based green card applications are still permitted for eligible applicants; however, processing at the U.S. embassy in Damascus may be limited and even temporarily halted.

** UPDATE: On February 6, 2012, the U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria officially closed and halted all operations.  The embassy stated that the Polish Embassy in Damascus will assist U.S. citizens remaining in Syria by providing limited consular services. Other processing may be available through the U.S. embassy in Amman, Jordan or other posts in the region.  **

• Q: Are Syrians in the United States who are out of status or who have visas that may soon expire eligible for asylum?

• A: Possibly. Asylum is a form of protection extended to certain foreign nationals who are in the United States and who cannot safely return to their home countries. Asylum seekers must prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution/harm based on their particular personal situation relating to their:
  
  • (1) political opinion/activity
  • (2) nationality
  • (3) religion
  • (4) race, and/or
    
  • (5) membership in a particular social group

Given the current situation, examples may include a Syrian national in the U.S. who attended protests in the U.S.; a Syrian national who is an active member (or closely related to an active member) of opposition-related organizations; or a Syrian national whose family member was harmed or killed by the Syrian government during a protest, etc.

Generally, the law does not apply to individuals who fear returning to their home country due to generalized violence, civil wars, criminal prosecution, harassment and/or discrimination, and economic or environmental reasons.

However, even these reasons may suffice if they can be connected to one of the five listed reasons.

Asylum seekers are generally required to apply for asylum within 1 year of their arrival; however, given the unprecedented country conditions in Syria, exceptions may apply. 

Persecution must either be carried out by the government or a group the government cannot control. A person who is granted asylum may remain in the U.S. indefinitely and may apply for the green card after one year. Individuals who do not qualify for asylum may be eligible for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

• Q: Has the U.S. government designated Syria for any special immigration protection based on the current situation?
• A: No. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is not available for Syrians. TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to foreign nationals of certain countries who are in the U.S. and who cannot safely return to their home countries. Currently, the United States has not extended TPS protection to Syrian nationals. Various organizations, have recently made requests to the Obama administration to extend TPS to Syrian nationals. However, TPS, which currently only applies to 6 countries, is rarely made available to other countries.

• Q: Are there any other immigration options for Syrians in the United States?
• A: Standard family- and employment-based options remain available for eligible applicants. Other forms of relief may be available for individuals in deportation proceedings, such as cancellation of removal, or for individuals with outstanding deportation orders, such as deferred action or potential reopening of their cases. Other options may be available based on particular circumstances.

• Q: Do you need additional information?
• A: If you would like to discuss potential immigration options for you or a family member, please send us an email and, if available, we will connect you with a qualified attorney for a free initial consultation. Please include your name, phone number, email, city/state, and as much detail as possible about your situation and why you believe you may qualify for immigration relief. All inquiries are confidential and are sent directly to the attorney.

** DISCLAIMER: The information in this message provides general information only. This information does not constitute legal advice and does not take the place of consulting with an attorney. We do not warrant that the materials in this message are completely accurate, error-free or comprehensive. **