The Promise of Freedom

I’ve written previously about Kirk Johnson and TLP and his efforts to help resettle Iraqi refugees in the U.S. here. These refugees are marked for helping the U.S. Government in Iraq. You can also read about the children of these resettled refugees here.

The video clip above, The Promise of Freedom is a feature documentary by Principle Pictures Production that exposes the long-term human consequences of war and raises questions about loyalty, betrayal, friendship, patriotism and the ability of America to uphold its own values. This project is supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

In a related and hopeful development, AP reports earlier this month that the Bush administration said it could admit almost 8,000 more Iraqi refugees to the U.S., putting it within reach its goal of admitting 12,000 by the end of this fiscal year (September 2008).

"We have a long way to go and we recognize that," said James Foley, the State Department's coordinator for Iraqi refugees. Foley was appointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last year to streamline the admissions process and meet the goal of admitting 12,000 Iraqi refugees during the current budget year. Ambassador Foley said, "On paper, we feel pretty good that we can reach our goal," but cautioned that there was no guarantee that all would make it onto American soil by the deadline.

The report concludes that “the rising numbers are the result of a push to improve the process by the departments of State and Homeland Security, which run the operation. Recent changes include improved access to refugees in Syria and the start of processing in Iraq itself. Before March, Iraqis had to apply outside their home country.” You can read the entire report by Matthew Lee here.

A notice released by the Department's PRM Bureau (Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration) on May 7 this year states that: Certain categories of Iraqis with U.S. affiliations may apply directly for consideration under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. Refugee processing inside Iraq will be limited by security and logistical constraints and the majority of Iraqis with U.S. affiliations are encourage to apply for USRAP consideration in Jordan or Egypt if possible. At the present time, [the] capacity to process Iraqi refugees for resettlement is much greater in Jordan and Egypt than in Iraq. Persons described in the specific categories (1-6) who believe they are at risk or have experienced serious harm as a result of association with the U.S. Government since March 20, 2003, and who wish to be considered for resettlement as refugees in the United States may contact the International Organization for Migration at the following addresses (sorry, I just fixed the email address links below on 8/7):


Jordan - AmmanInfoCenter[at]iom[dot]int

Egypt - CairoInfoCenter[at]iom[dot]int

Iraq - BaghdadInfoCenter[at]iom[dot]int

Walter Pincus for WaPo (June 16, 2008; Page A17) details the slow resettlement of the refugees, and writes about Kirk Johnson talking about TLP recently in D.C. under the auspices of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, an independent, nonpartisan congressional entity. Part of this session was Ibrahim, one of the Iraqis, a former USAID employee who was resettled in the U.S. by TLP who was quoted by the report:

"Ibrahim 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."

And there it is - a feedback for Ambassador Foley to consider.

The PRM Bureau says that "reflecting the best humanitarian traditions of the American people, the U.S. Government funds protection and life-sustaining relief for millions of refugees and victims of conflict around the globe." I only have one thing to add - these are our very own refugees. We must do this right or - we'll be forever known as the One who leave friends behind.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Online Resources for Iraqi Refugees
(external links to USG and NGO websites)

Fact Sheet on Expanded P-2 May 2008
(Word document)

Fact Sheet –Refugee Resettlement, May 7, 2008
(Online)

General Factsheet Re: Iraqi Refugees
(Word Document)

General Factsheet Re: Iraqi Refugees (Arabic translation)
(Word document)

QA on SIV benefits for Iraqis and Afghans
(Word document)

SIV Iraqi- Afghan Resettlement 2-08
(Word document)

Special Immigrant Visas for Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters
(Online)

PRM Letter Regarding I-130 P2 Program for Iraqi Refugees
(Word document)

I-130 P2 Program FAQs
(Word document)

Refugee Processing Center – FAQs
(Online)

The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies/Kirk Johnson
(Online)

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
(Online)

Checkpoint One Foundation
(Online)

Human Rights First
(Online)

Refugees International
(Online)

They're Getting Younger, and We're Lucky

This is a follow up on my most recent post on The List Project. Perhaps because I am a parent, my thoughts seemed to gravitate directly to the kids of the 86 refugees who were resettled in the US by Kirk Johnson and his supporters. When I viewed the List Kids' wish list, I was surprised to see what were in it. The lowest item on the list is a Picture Word Flash Cards ($6.99) and the most expensive item is LeapFrog Leapster Learning System- Silver/ Green ($49.99). You can see the rest of the wish list here.

I donated some of the items in the wish list, but I wonder - what about shoes and clothes? My son grew like a weed, and has been through four sizes of shoes one year alone. So I sent an email to The List Kids inquiring about gently used clothes or shoes. And I got a response from Sky, the director of The Kids List.

"We are starting a database with the kids sizes and needs and will be adding it to our Target wish list and creating a Walmart wish list. Because the children are spread out throughout the US everything has to be shipped, which adds to the cost. That is why my first approach was to solicit gift cards which are easier and cheaper to send in the mail. My second concern with clothing is that I operate this out of my home and I am a little wary of being innudated with clothes that need to be sorted and distributed by size. We are an extremely lean operation as you can imagine. Books are always welcomed, however, as I believe there is a special rate for shipping books."

I understand the logistical challenge and energy needed for doing an operation like this. But I did not realize how much of a challenge until I learned who was running The Kids List - 11 year old Sky Choi - yep, all of 11 years.

The List Kids was founded by Choi to support the children of U.S.-affiliated Iraqis as they are resettled in the U.S. He realized that these Iraqi children must now face the challenge of integrating into an unfamiliar society. So together with two of his cousins, Sky is assembling care packages to welcome them. He writes that the purpose of The List Kids is to reach out "to the Iraqi kids whose parents are on The List. If they are lucky enough to make it to America, I want to be able to let them know they are welcome and safe here."

Too young to drive, drink, vote or fight in a war but not too young to help (or nudge our collective conscience)! Amazing! My hat off to Sky! May the force will always be with you!

Contact Info

The List Kids
1461 N. Hiatus Road, Box 107
Pembroke Pines, FL 33026

Email: kids[at]thelistproject[dot]org

Kirk Johnson: Keeper of the List

This is Kirk Johnson in this week’s interview with 60 Minutes. In December 2006, Kirk Johnson, a former USAID worker who had been based in Baghdad and Fallujah throughout 2005, received a message from a former Iraqi colleague. A few weeks earlier while walking home from his job assisting the U.S., "Y" (real name withheld) had found a severed dog's head thrown on his front steps with a note pinned to it that said: "Your head will be next." When the U.S. government offered him no help, "Y" and his wife packed what they could carry and, after years of service to America, fled Iraq.

Johnson wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times describing Y's plight and calling on the U.S. to save those Iraqis imperiled by their belief in America and its state-building effort. Soon thereafter, Johnson began hearing from many others who had endured similar fates. He began documenting the names and whereabouts of former Iraqi colleagues and found that nearly 70% of the Iraqis he had worked with throughout 2005 were refugees in Syria, Jordan, the UAE, and other countries. Within weeks, Johnson's List had grown dramatically.

On June 20^th 2007 - designated as World Refugee Day, Kirk Johnson founded The List: Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies (TLP), a small non-profit advocating for Iraqis endangered by their work with American organizations to be resettled to the United States. The organization of which Johnson is the director, currently employs four full-time staff and dozens of committed volunteers. It has partnered with law firms Holland & Knight and Proskauer Rose to provide legal representation for Iraqis and help them navigate the complicated resettlement process. The two firms have contributed nearly 100 attorneys and thousands of hours pro bono representation. TLP also partnered with Upwardly Global, an innovative NGO which has committed to assisting the Iraqis on the List once they arrive to the U.S.

The TLP website states that “The List catalogues detailed information on nearly 1000 Iraqis in grave danger for their association with the United States. Most are displaced; all have been employed by American organizations (including U.S. Government agencies, the Armed Forces, and American contractors and NGOs operating in Iraq). The List is growing by the day, but despite bi-partisan consensus that the fate of Iraqis who aided the US is a fundamental moral and national security imperative, the United States government is still admitting only a paltry few refugees per month. It is nowhere near reaching its stated goal of 12,000 by the end of fiscal year 2008.”

I don't know about you but - this hits me hard every time I see this clip. One man. 86 refugees. The power of one man doing the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time is not only admirable but restores my faith that, as Albert Schweitzer puts it so clearly, each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end. A water fall begins with only one drop of water, doesn't it? One drop. One man.

There are things we cannot do, but we cannot let what we cannot do preclude us from doing what we can do. I think there are many opportunities to help here. If you can, please, help.
You can stay informed, start a list project chapter, donate to the legal support program, help the List Kids, write to elected officials, or support any of the organization’s three funds: Emergency Support Fund, Iraqi Airfare Fund or the Job Training Fund. You can read more detailed information on how to help here. To donate online, click here.

To read more about The List: Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies, click here.

Spaas - Gracias - Shokrun - Thank You - Teşekkür Ederim !!!