Editorial: Hope for Iraqi family

Sunday, July 15, 2007 | 2:29 a.m.

Federal immigration authorities have rightly used discretion in the Las Vegas case of a woman and her two children who fear for their lives if they are sent back to Iraq.

The family has been placed under an "order of supervision," which means they will be closely monitored by immigration authorities but not immediately deported.

Dallal Muhamed's story is one that cries out for compassion, and we hope that it ultimately comes her way in the form of permanent asylum here. For now, the order of supervision lessens her worst fear, that agents at any moment will put them on a plane bound for Iraq.

She ended up in Las Vegas six years ago after being on the run for about eight years. She says she had to flee Iraq after being raped by a member of a gang affiliated with Oday Hussein, Saddam's son. It is known that government-sanctioned rape was common at that time. She feared the gang would attack her again and her family would harm her out of shame and take her children.

She fled to Yemen, then Germany, where she was granted political asylum. But Muhamed said threats followed her there and that she was forced to flee again, first to Mexico and then illegally to the United States.

Today she is a dealer at the Orleans, but her application for political asylum was rejected. Court appeals failed on the grounds that the family had already obtained asylum in Germany.

Immigration officials used their discretion in granting the order of supervision instead of deporting the family. The order is tenuous, however, as it lasts only until the officials rule that Iraq is safe enough for them to return.

We hope immigration officials understand that Iraq is a very dangerous place for this family, and that it will be for many years to come.