Afghan Woman with U.S. Family Fights Deportation
February 21st, 2005

WASHINGTON: Afghan national Abdul Rahman with his two American-born children Zikira and Zaky, his wife Samira, the boys' mother, is in a New Jersey detention center, facing deportation.

"I'm feeling very depressed, because I have two sons, and I am working, and I can't take care of them at the same time," he said.

Samira Rahman fled to Pakistan from Afghanistan seven years ago, after the Taliban killed her brother and seized her father. She came to the United States in 2001 and married Abdul, who was granted asylum when he arrived from Afghanistan in 1992.

But there is a problem. Since the Taliban is no longer in power, her application for asylum has been denied. She has been told she will be deported in 30 days.

Samira's lawyers have asked the courts to delay the deportation. On Thursday, the Queens-based humanitarian organization Women for Afghan Women rallied to support the appeal.

Senator Charles Schumer released a statement supporting the petition, saying: "The INS should grant her a reprieve to allow her to stay here until she can get a Green Card through her husband, an asylee from the same country. If she is forced back to Afghanistan she will have nowhere to go, and no family to turn to. Those fleeing persecution come to the United States for one reason - equal justice under law, Mrs. Rahman deserves to be reunited with her family."

Wile the Taliban is no longer in power, if Samira returns to Afghanistan, it's still very likely she will be imprisoned, advocates say.

"If they know she is alone," said Manizah Naderi, the director of Women for Afghan Women, "most likely she'll be put in jail, because they think that for her own safety it's better for her to be in jail than be on the streets."

As for Abdul, he says his wife is already a prisoner, separated from her children.

"My wife, she's sick," he said. "She has high blood pressure. She has a foot problem. And she always cries for the kids."

A decision on the appeal could come at any time.