The Lehigh Valley family whose six Syrian relatives were denied entry to the United States more than a week ago were reunited Monday in a joyous scene at their Allentown home.
Gov. Tom Wolf greeted the Asali families with flowers as they arrived at the home in the 900 block of North 38th Street shortly after noon. The family flew into JFK Airport in New York City on Monday morning, having left from Syria on Sunday.
Seconds after getting out of a white van, family members told reporters they were “tired” and it was a “long trip.”
“We’re very happy and grateful a lot of people are supporting us,” said Sarmad Assali, who with her husband Dr. Ghassan Assali had been awaiting their relatives’ arrival for years.
Ghassan Assali’s two brothers and their families had made international headlines when they were denied entry into the U.S. at Philadelphia International Airport in late January. The family was forced to return to Syria as a result of a temporary travel ban from seven nations enacted by President Donald Trump’s executive order. They returned to Syria and their visas that officials said they worked years to obtain were canceled.
The travel ban has since been placed on hold due to a temporary restraining order issued by a U.S. District court judge. Sarmad Assali called the ordeal a “nightmare” and on Monday, she said, the family “woke up to a dream.”
“Last week, I was angry. I was depressed,” she said. “It took a lot of hard work. I kept looking around (when they arrived in the U.S.) and this is a dream. And you know what? Today, the dream came true.”
The family was assisted the past week through the efforts of immigration lawyers, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.
Dent accompanied the family to JFK on Monday and Wolf was in Allentown to greet them outside Ghassan and Sarmad Assali’s home.
“This is who we are,” Wolf said of Americans. “Think of what they’ve been through … they have gone through an amazing journey to get here. This has been a long, long trip. This family is finally united after a long, long time.”
Ousted Syrians begin long journey back to U.S.
Wolf said Americans’ ancestors came from other areas, making the U.S. what it is today.
“That’s who we are,” Wolf said, calling Trump’s travel ban in the seven Muslim-majority nations “wrong. “This is who we are as the people. We should welcome that.”
Mathyo Asali, a high school senior, said he looked forward to finishing school. He said if he couldn’t come to the U.S. he feared being enlisted in the Syrian military because he is “of age.” He called the ban “stressful.”
“I’m very happy to see my brother and be reunited with my family,” he said. “Going back to Syria, my life (would be) ruined.”
The family gained support from various organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which hailed their arrival in the States. Neighbors also turned out to witness the neighborhood spectacle.
“All’s well that ends well,” said a male neighbor who declined to give his name.
Ingrid Moore, who has lived next-door to the Assalis — they spell their name differently than the Syrian family, which spells their surname with one “s” — for more than six years. She said she was thrilled for the couple.
“I’m just happy for them,” she said. “They have a great family. It’s so wonderful that they’re finally here. It’s a happy ending.”
After talking to a crush of reporters, the Asalis said they couldn’t wait to catch up inside the home.
“We’re going to have a nice lunch,” Sarmad Assali said.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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