Dilbreen's Story

Writer: Freshta Rahmani takes a look at how Trump's relations with Russia affect refugees. 

     The highlight of 2016? Undoubtedly, the American Election. After months of waiting to hear the victor’s name, the hope for the refugees both grew and dwindled as the last two presidential candidates were announced. For the Syrian and Palestinian refugees, with Clinton came the chance to continue entering the United States to escape the war, terror and hunger that hung over their country through her plans to fix the country's immigration system.

       With Trump meant the returning to less open countries, or even worse: back home amidst the rising death toll, due to his policy of closing the gates to those hundreds and thousands of refugees who needed a new place to live.  And with the announcement of Trump’s victory came the loss of hope as the prospect of finding another country to live in became the one primary goals of the many families seeking help, amidst survival.
    The 45th president of the United States of America is mostly known for his verbal efforts and campaigning against Mexico and the Middle East, efforts centered around his particular opinions regarding immigrants from both regions. He is currently fighting to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and have them pay for it, and, due to his Islamophobic judgements, has halted the incoming of all groups from seven Middle East nations, in fear of terrorists crawling amongst them in disguise.  
    With the U.S. no longer being a sanctuary option for the Syrian refugees, the struggling families are forced to turn elsewhere for a chance to reestablish themselves and find a safe place to raise their children. But just going to another country and asking for a green card isn’t the reality. There are 196 countries in the world including Taiwan, and only 29 of them are accepting Syrian Refugees. With the loss of the United States as one asylum, the number dwindles down to 28, and will keep dwindling due to President Trump’s plans for alliances that could stop the future influx of refugees into countries such as Russia, Egypt and Turkey and perchance, Saudi Arabia.
    By forming an alliance between Russia and the United States, Trump most likely will convince the Russians to close their borders. Having an alliance with Russia can also lead to positive support for Russia's role in the crisis in Syria, which in turn means American support would likely worsen the situation, which would drive more citizens out of the country. And not only will an alliance be attempted with Russia; Turkey and Egypt are amongst other countries that may shut out the incoming Syrians and Palestinians from their borders.  
    For one family in particular, the term “life or death” is accurately applied.
    The Immigration Ban set upon seven countries―Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya―proves that Mr. Trump was serious in fulfilling his promises to the Americans who voted for him, but Dilbreen, a young Iraqi boy who was drastically injured by a heater that exploded when he was just eighteen months, now straddles the dilemma of staying alive or being reunited with his family. He was rushed to the United States for treatment through an organization called Road to Peace, hoping that he would survive such a vicious trauma. Then, his mother back home in Iraq gave birth, causing Dilbreen’s father to rush back home to be with his remaining family and wife, leaving Dilbreen temporarily. After several attempts to attain a visa for their newborn, Dilbreen’s father, Ajeel, and his mother had their visas revoked last Christmas consequent to the newly placed ban on their country.
     Alone and awaiting surgery, Dilbreen is comforted by a member of the Road to Peace organization, Sally Becker, who is currently fighting for the allowance of his parents to be with him when the time for Dilbreen’s life-saving surgery comes to formation.
     Dilbreen is not the only one affected by the institution of the travel ban; many families from the targeted nations are missing members of their family, and their stories are sweeping the media as more and more families attempt to unite with their loved ones by capturing the government's attention through social media.
The ban is allegedly set to last around 90-120 days after its initiation, depending upon the country in question. As of now, waves of riots and protests are taking place to give voice to all the nations and people that fail to have any in the eyes of President Trump.