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The Kojo Nnamdi Show: Resettling Vulnerable Iraqis

Iraqis who worked US entities during the war often find themselves targets of violence. Yet a U.S. program designed to allow 5000 refugees annually resettle in America has helped only a tiny percentage of them, and many have been stuck in visa limbo for more than 5 years.

 With the U.S. scheduled to pull out of Iraq this year, Iraqis who work with US entities find themselves fearful for their future, and many want to resettle in the US. A special visa program allows up to 5,000 of these Iraqis -- who report grave threats because of their U.S. affiliation -- to gain admittance each year, but only about 1,000 of these slots are filled annually. We find out why aiding these Iraqis has been such a challenge, and how security, budgetary and bureaucratic hurdles impact their lives.

The Kojo Nnamdi Show is produced by member-supported WAMU 88.5 in Washington DC.

 

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