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KCK family trying to bring Syrian student to US

Posted at 3:45 PM, Sep 12, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-12 16:45:45-04

Father Elias Issa of the Parish of St. Basil Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Kansas City, Kansas, is speaking up about his family’s failed attempt to bring an 18-year-old nephew out of the war-torn country of Syria, and into the education system of America.

Issa says he, along with his brother and sister-in-law, worked with the United States to legally bring the student here.

“To come here and study and provide good life and peaceful life for him,” said Father Issa.

Issa says every legal means and way to bring the student was followed. All of the paperwork for the young man was approved by the State Department on the American end, but then something went wrong.

“From here it was sent to the US embassy in Beirut. He met with someone in the consulate. They told him he’s rejected and not to come back again,” said Issa.

The tuition was already paid for, and his I-20 form for those who seek non-immigrant student status, was completed.

“(We) were willing to fund the entire operation. And... by bringing him up here and giving him new education. New life,” said Issa. “Very shameful response. The most awful response and the most bureaucratic attitude of anybody I’ve ever heard.”

You can find out more information and contact the church if you'd like to donate to the cause of providing help to Father Issa's cause.

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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.

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