Dear Friends, It has been awhile since we have provided an update and that is simply because there had not been one since June when the family received news that their denial for refugee resettlement was overturned and that they were conditionally approved for travel to the United States. Last week, the family was finally contacted by immigration, but only for more questioning. This information will be used for additional security vetting/checks as Iraq is one of the 11 countries that now face new refugee scrutiny due to new policy set forth by the current administration. Keep in mind that this family applied for refugee resettlement in 2010. They have been vetted for over seven years and have been conditionally approved twice. They have had family members threatened, shot, and killed because of their allegiance to the United States and remain in danger because of it. They were once one day away from escaping Iraq before being wrongly denied their exit. They have been more than extremely vetted. The good news is that by the family being contacted last week, we at least we know some action is being taken on the case. The bad news is that we do not know how long the "extreme vetting" will take or where it will lead. Please continue to contact your representatives and request expedition of this case so that this heroic family can be reunited in safety. A letter template is provided in a previous petition update. Also, please check out my Op-Ed about this case and the rest of our Iraqi allies we have left behind. The piece is in today’s Boston Globe. Thank you all for your continued support. Although things are not where we want them to be, we have to remind ourselves that we are in a lot better spot than we were before the denial was overturned. And, this is in large part due to your efforts for which we are forever grateful. Pete