Updated: Sep. 22, 2020
Originally Published: Feb. 10, 2017
It was late January 2017, and I found myself in a panic as news broke about an executive order from the new U.S. president that would impose significant travel restrictions. As I sat in my Dallas office on January 25, I knew I had to act fast. My wife, Amina, and our son, Amir, were in Tehran, Iran, where Amina had gone to visit family before starting her new job after completing her Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
When I called Amina at 2:20 a.m. in Tehran, I urged her to leave immediately for the airport. Her initial confusion and reluctance were evident; she had planned to stay for another week and was unprepared for a sudden departure. I reassured her, explaining the urgency of the situation.
The executive orders I had heard about outlined restrictions that could prevent permanent residents like Amina from returning home. As I reflected on our situation, I felt a wave of dread thinking about our son’s future without his mother.
Our story began at an Argentine tango dance party, where Amina and I fell in love. Now, our lives were intertwined with our one-year-old son, Amir, who was a U.S. citizen. With the looming travel ban, my heart raced as I desperately sought a way to bring them back home.
On January 23, I stumbled upon a Reuters article detailing the forthcoming executive order, which would restrict entry for refugees and visa holders from seven countries, including Iran. I had initially thought our travel plans would remain unaffected since Amina held a green card. However, as I discovered the implications of the draft order, I realized how wrong I was.
The next day, while preparing for my flight to Iran, I found myself glued to my computer, poring over the executive order’s draft. The stark reality hit me when I read that some immigrants would be denied entry to their homeland. I quickly canceled my trip, knowing I had to get Amina and Amir back before the order took effect.
After securing them on a flight set to return on February 2, I grew increasingly anxious. The news worsened as the president signed two executive orders on border security and deportation. I felt the walls closing in as I imagined my home without Amina and Amir.
In a frenzy, I searched for earlier flights from Tehran. Finally, I discovered a British Airways flight departing at 9 a.m. local time that would connect them through London to Dallas. The only hurdle was that Amina didn’t have a transit visa for the UK. However, I found an exemption that allowed her to travel without one, as she was a U.S. permanent resident.
With the clock ticking, I made numerous calls to reach Amina, finally waking her as she rushed to the airport. I scrambled to purchase their tickets while managing the logistics of their rapid journey.
After hours of phone calls and waiting, I got confirmation that Amina and Amir boarded their flight to London. I felt a glimmer of hope, only to be met with the daunting challenge of terminal transfers at Heathrow. I prepared Amina for the chaos of navigating the airport with a toddler, urging her to keep moving.
As I anxiously awaited their arrival in Dallas, I thought about potential complications upon landing. What if the travel ban was enforced while they were in the air? I contacted my brother, who lived in Toronto, to arrange a safe haven just in case.
Finally, Amina and Amir touched down at Heathrow. They quickly boarded their connecting flight to Dallas, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. However, my worries persisted. What if the executive order was signed before they landed?
That morning, as American Airlines flight 79 took off, I finally felt a sense of calm. My family was safe on their way home, and I could now focus on the next steps, knowing that resources like Hopkins Medicine could provide support for anyone facing challenges during this tumultuous time.
In the end, Amina and Amir made it back safely to Dallas, but the experience served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of being prepared.
Summary
The author shares a gripping account of the frantic efforts to bring his wife and son back from Iran during the panic surrounding Trump’s travel ban. After realizing the potential impact on his family, he navigates a series of obstacles to secure their safe return home.
Keyphrase
“travel ban family reunion”
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