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An Immigrant's Struggle To Get His American Dream

(WCCO) Things have changed since 9/11. At the airport, we take off our shoes, put liquids in special bottles and wait longer. However, our waits are small compared to the ones future citizens' face in getting applications processed.

Tens of thousands of immigrants have had to be patient for years.

Wael Mohammed is trying to work on getting his Ph.D. Back in 1999, Wael married his wife Gina, and then emigrated from Egypt on a skilled worker visa.

"I came to the United States as a software engineer," said Wael. "But back in my head, I always had the hope that I would go back to school."

His passion is supply chain management: how products get from here to there.

"One of the main reasons I came here is really to achieve my American dream, become a professor," explained Wael.

Five years ago, Wael applied for a green card, which means permanent resident status. He's been waiting ever since.

"Nothing was happening at all," he said. "It's like it entered into a black hole."

To get a green card, immigrants pay a $1,010 fee and apply to the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service.

Before they can get permanent resident status, they must pass three tests. First, an FBI fingerprint check. Next, the FBI makes sure the applicant's name isn't on a list of criminals and terrorists.

Finally, there's the name check. If anyone with the applicant's name has ever been even mentioned in a criminal investigation, even if they didn't have a role in the crime, the application is flagged. Then the FBI has to manually search its records. That can, and sometimes does, take years.

"I've heard of people who've been in the name check for eight years," said Wael. "That is not, I don't think that is right."

Neither does Wael's immigration attorney, Herbert Igbanugo.

"If somebody is really a terrorist, you want to do their name check in one day, not four years," he said.

After a couple years waiting, Wael did what other immigrants have done. He sued the federal government to finish the name check.

While waiting, Wael accomplished a lot. He and his wife had two kids, Farida and Amr, who are American citizens. Wael worked and went to school full time, getting an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School.

He was all set to go for his Ph.D. at Arizona State, one of the top schools in the country for Supply Chain Management. He told his employer, American Medical Systems, he would be leaving, so that he would have enough time to prepare his replacement. He didn't realize then that he couldn't start school until his immigration issues were resolved.

"I was becoming more aware that this was not going to work because of the name check," said Wael.

Meanwhile, Wael's employer had hired his replacement. The company kept Wael on through the end of December, but after that they didn't have work for him. Around that same time, a magistrate judge found in Wael's favor.

"The government should either give a reason why they're not finishing the name check or finish it. Within 15 days," said Wael, explaining the ruling.

Half a month later, immigration officials did something else. They didn't finish the name check. Instead they turned down Wael's application, because he didn't have a job. They also started deportation proceedings.

"It would take them a lot less energy to expedite the name check than to fight the way they're fighting," said Wael's attorney.

It's hard to decide if Wael has had bad luck, bad timing or both. Last month, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services changed its policy. Now, if the only hold-up is the name check, after six months, officials will approve the application and grant permanent resident status.

WCCO-TV asked the U.S. Attorney's Office and immigration officials about Wael's case. They chose not to comment.

Since Wael can't work or go to school, he studies.

"I find my relief in reading and reading and reading," he said. His lawyer is challenging the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services decision and fighting deportation.

"I don't want to uproot my family," he said. "I like it here."

Arizona State agreed to postpone Wael's admission for now. If he can't get everything straightened out, he may end up getting his Ph.D. in Canada or Europe.

Depending on what happens, Wael may end up finding his American dream, to become a college professor, in another country.

"I'd be losing a lot too because I love this place," he said. "I'd be losing a lot."

 

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