The story of a 4-month-old Iranian girl, who was unable to travel to Oregon where she was hoping to receive heart surgery due to President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, has received widespread attention since it was first reported by local news stations earlier this week.
The girl, Fatemah Taghizadeh, was diagnosed with a heart problem last month and her family was told she would need surgery, but doctors in Iran did not have the surgical equipment necessary for the procedure.
Her uncle, Samad Taghizadeh, a U.S. citizen who lives in Portland with the girl’s grandparents, began making arrangements for the family in Iran to apply for a tourist visa so Fatemah could consult with doctors at Oregon Health & Science University, one of the premier facilities in the world for pediatric cardiology.
Fatemah and her parents were set to fly to Dubai on Saturday for an appointment at the U.S. Embassy there, but their appointment was abruptly cancelled after the ban went into effect the day before and the family has been left in limbo ever since.
Since Fatemah’s story has gained publicity, a number of prominent voices have called for a solution to the problem.
Keith Olbermann, a liberal commentator for GQ, tweeted about the story, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also took an interest and Sen. Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, has assigned a caseworker to the family to try and seek a solution.
Here’s the consequence of this un-American policy. An exception should be made.If OR has issue, NY will provide care https://t.co/AGctmgSTIr
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 3, 2017
On Friday, Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, flanked by a large picture of Fatmah, took to the floor of the House to call out what she said was a “hastily-issued” order from the president that is having unintended consequences on people like the young girl and her family, calling her the “human toll of Trump’s Executive Order” in a press release.
“This is Fatemeh. She is not a terrorist. She’s a four-month-old baby girl who is in immediate need of open-heart surgery,” Bonamici said. “Her parents desperately want the best care for her, so they planned to bring her from their home in Iran to Portland, Oregon, to one of the best hospitals for pediatric heart surgery. That’s where Fatemeh’s uncle and grandparents all live – they are US citizens.”
Bonamici called for the courts to overturn the order and allow Fatemah and her family to travel to the U.S.
“My office has reached out to Fatemeh’s family in Oregon to be of assistance, but it is heartbreaking and disgraceful that this even happened,” she said. “I hope the courts invalidate this unconstitutional Executive Order soon, and I hope it’s in time for baby Fatemeh.”
— Kale Williams
kwilliams@oregonian.com
503-294-4048
@sfkale
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