Donald Trump would like you to believe that the turmoil brought about by his misbegotten and likely unconstitutional ban on travel and emigration from seven Muslim-majority countries is just “a small price to pay” for protecting the country from terrorism. But for a number of children ensnared by this order, getting to America’s shores is literally a matter of life and death. When Trump signed that order, he effectively slammed the door on these children getting critical medical care that is only available in this country.
One of the most gut-wrenching stories is that of Fatemah Taghizadeh, a four-month-old girl from Iran. She was slated for open heart surgery at Oregon Health & Science University to correct a severe birth defect. Fatemah’s uncle, Sam Taghizadeh, told KPTV in Portland that Fatemah’s parents didn’t trust Iranian health care, so they accepted his offer to fly to the United States and have the surgery done there. Sam and his parents are American citizens who fled Iran several years ago.
Fatemah and her parents flew to Dubai on Saturday, where they were due to clear the last hurdle to get Fatemah to Oregon for the February 5 procedure–applying for a tourist visa. However, when they arrived in Dubai, they were abruptly told to turn back. When Sam Taghizadeh heard the news, it hit him like a ton of bricks. Doctors at OHSU told him that Fatemah needed the surgery right away, and now she’s stuck in limbo.
Sadly, Fatemah isn’t the only innocent child ensnared in this ban. The Washington Post reports that Trump’s 120-day ban on refugees derailed the plans of a number of refugee kids with severe medical conditions. A nine-year-old Somali boy has a congenital heart condition that is well beyond what can be treated at his Ethiopian refugee camp. Another Somali boy has severe intestinal problems, and his refugee camp doesn’t have any colostomy bags. A one-year-old Sudanese boy has severe cancer.
All three of these kids were slated for resettlement in the United States, but the refugee ban brought those plans to a screeching halt. The agency handling their cases, Church World Service–best known as the folks behind the CROP Walk–says that these kids literally can’t afford to wait, and is urging Trump to see reason. Sarah Krause, CWS’ senior director for immigration and refugees, put it bluntly–“It is unnecessary for these individuals to die while awaiting resettlement.”
This sweeping order was one of many that were drafted with virtually no input from the agencies who would have to carry them out. Had the White House bothered to do so, it would have likely realized that a blanket ban of this sort would almost certainly trap innocent people–especially children–who needed critical medical care. No doubt the State Department officials who formally protested this ban had this in mind.
Even in the unlikely event this order passes constitutional muster, there is no longer any doubt–it doesn’t even begin to pass moral muster. And if any of these kids die, we and the rest of the world must hold Trump responsible.
(featured image courtesy Sam Taghizadeh via KPTV)
