Mother a step closer to finding kids

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

If Edith Douraid's husband does not bring her two children home from Morocco, she intends to fly to the African country and search for them herself.

Only money, a green card and a passport can hinder the Colombian national's mission. Douraid said that after months of delays she has finally made progress in at least securing the legal documents.

During a brief court hearing Tuesday an immigration judge gave Douraid preliminary approval of her green card application, and her Colombian passport is expected to arrive by the end of the year.

"It's getting to the point now where I can't wait to find my kids," Douraid said Tuesday. "I want to fly there and look for them myself."

Douraid hasn't seen 11-year-old Omar or 2-year-old Ali in more than a year.

Her saga, outlined in an Aug. 6 Sun article, began about two years ago when Douraid's husband, Aziz, took Omar to Morocco to spend the summer with his grandparents. Omar never returned to Las Vegas.

Nine months later, agents with the Immigration and Naturalization Services arrested Douraid while she was home alone with Ali. She is convinced she was the victim of a ruthless plot by her husband to take both children and leave her with nothing.

When Douraid was released from jail and given a timeline in which she had to secure a green card, she returned to her Las Vegas home. She was approached by a friend of her husband when she entered the house through a back door.

Although the furnishings and artwork remained and the closet was full of Douraid's clothes, she was told the home and everything inside no longer belonged to her. She later learned that she unknowingly signed power of attorney to her husband in 1997 and he sold their belongings.

Douraid started her green card process months ago but until this month had yet to hear from the INS. If she did not have the proper paperwork by spring, Douraid faced forced deportation to Colombia. And she knew if she were home, she would never have the financial means to get her children back.

Douraid said that two days after her story was published she received a call from immigration officials who vowed to expedite her application.

"They said it was an unfortunate thing that happened and they want to make sure Immigration does their part and hadn't treated me unfairly," Douraid said.

She has also heard from the U.S. State Department and the state attorney general's office.

Once she receives her passport and green card, Douraid said she will be able to work and earn enough money to fly to Morocco.

"Being able to stay here gives me a chance to fight for my kids," Douraid said.