into a three year- plus separation from the husband she has loved for over 36 years, BosNewsLife has learned.
The case has highlighted concern among human rights watchers that innocent people become victims of America’s strict border guidelines, which were imposed after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
In an Internet e-mail interview, Leila said she and her husband Emile came to the U.S. in early 2001 wanting to start a new life amid worries about persecution of Christians in their homeland and throughout the Middle East.
After making frequent visits to America using a visa with multiple entry privileges, they decided to stay permanently to be close to their son and his American wife, and started a process to become "permanent residents" in the United States, the couple said.
Emile explained her husband received a letter from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service promising to look into the request within 90 days.
BACK TO LEBANON
Awaiting a positive answer, Leila went back to Lebanon in June 2001 for what she expected to be a short trip to sell the couple’s house and use part of those funds to support themselves during the transition process and to help their son and daughter-in-law, who were already in America.
But returning to the U.S. Leila was denied re-entry. She was told by American officials that because the couple wanted to change their status, she should have had "a waiver to leave the country"; something the couple claimed that neither of them knew anything about.
Emile’s son Rami told BosNewsLife in an e-mail interview that "three- and- a- half years have passed" without any sign of progress.
"My father and mother live in different countries with no hope of living together in the future. They are both without a country to call their own. My mother attempted to re-apply for a visa again on several occasions; however, the embassy would not grant her the visa," he said.
GOLDEN YEARS SEPERATED
"They told her ‘no,’ because she might immigrate and not return. The pain of hearing her voice, knowing she is alone without her husband to enjoy their golden years is unbearable. What can one say? It is hard living with the anxiety of not knowing what will happen to her in a land where Christians are being persecuted, especially now with the Middle Eastern wars. Survival there is costly both financially and emotionally."
Rami’s wife Barbara said she "understands the need for tighter security after the terrible events of 9/11," but she is frustrated with the current guidelines that have kept her mother-in-law out of the country for so long.
"It does not take a rocket scientist to sit down and talk with Emile and Leila to see that they are clearly not here for any other reason than to live peacefully and enjoy the rest of their days with each other," she added.
LIVING "FOR THE DAY"
Leo Collymore, a friend of Emile’s, told BosNewsLife that Emile "lives for the day" when his wife will be allowed to join him in New Mexico. "Many have tried to help but to no avail," he said. "At the present time, U.S. Rep.(R-NM) Heather Wilson and her staff has been dealing with Emile’s application."
Citing confidentiality, Wilson’s office refused to discuss Emile’s and Leila’s situation. However U.S. directives have shown that the help anyone can give Leila is limited until Emile or Rami obtain their green cards and ultimately their citizenship. At that point they would presumably be able to sponsor Leila into the United States.
Barbara’s mother Grem Beck said she has also tried to help sort out the couple’s ongoing immigration nightmare. She said she "has worked with a variety of officials, but so far the situation remains the same." Beck called the Azar family "born again Christians, wonderful people, caring (and) gentle (who) would be an asset to this country and our community," and the local church.
"GOD FEARING MAN"
Collymore called Emile "a God fearing man who misses his wife very much. Without the presence of Leila, Emile is a lonely man. He speaks with her by phone and gives us a report on Sunday morning. Despite his problems, Emile is not afraid to stand up in defense of his Christian faith and to speak the truth even when his godly conduct causes him personal suffering," he said. "Emile", he added "is a very educated man with much to offer the United States. He is an anesthesiologist and a professional nurse, occupations that are in need of skilled professionals all across the country."
"Personally, I don’t understand how our government allows thousands of undocumented people who commit various kinds of crimes to remain in this country as legal residents, while a person like Emile who has so much to offer, faces incessant obstacle and barriers in his dealings with U.S. immigration."
Leila said in an e-mail message that after being denied entry to the United States she went to live for a while with her daughter in Australia. Her husband Emile was never very far from her thoughts, she said,
"I applied for a visa there and they refused to give it to me. They told me I had to go to my country and do it. I then went to Lebanon and applied for a visa several times and it never worked. I don’t feel anger towards the U.S. (but) … I now think it’s time for me to be reunited with my husband again."
ALONE IN UNITED STATES
About a month after Leila was denied entry to the United States, and was living in Australia, Emile joined her and spent about a year there. However, needing employment, he came back to the United States.
Despite the enforced separation, Emile is not an angry man. He said, "I never lost my faith in the Lord, and I believe (my wife) was not allowed to come here so far because our daughter (in Australia) needed her and now her mother (in Lebanon) is in need for her. (However), I am … disappointed, like any person who wants to live a decent life."
Leila agreed. "We are now living apart after 36 years of a blessed Christian marriage, and we would love to be together again to finish our lives serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Whom we have all belief and confidence," she said.
