Letter: U.S. should welcome people like Iraqi family

Friday, May 11, 2007 | 7:27 a.m.

The May 7 story in the Las Vegas Sun of mother and daughter caught in a Kafkaesque predicament of possible deportation reflects yet another dimension of the destructive and pointless war being waged in Iraq.

Logic would suggest that if Saddam Hussein were the sadistic demon that caused the United States to remove him from power, then those who tried and succeeded to escape his tyranny would be justified in seeking asylum in the United States. It is nothing less than unconscionable to turn our backs on this family, which has successfully adapted - despite what would be insurmountable odds for others - to their new home.

One last point. Dalyia Ahmed was a student in an English class that I taught at the community college two semesters ago. Not only did she earn a good grade, but she also was conscientious, studious and focused while holding down a job at the same time. Her attitude was bright and positive and in many ways she was a model international student.

These are the kind of individuals we should be welcoming to the United States rather than deporting.

John Esperian, Las Vegas