CAIR-Columbus today announced today the filing of a federal lawsuit against the US Embassy in Amman for unreasonably delaying immigrant visa applications for an elderly Muslim couple for over two years.
The plaintiffs’ daughter, who is a U.S. citizen, applied for her parents immigrant visas in 2015 because they both have significant health problems and have no family or support system in Jordan. The couple was interviewed by consular officers in Amman over eighteen-months ago, but to date the embassy has refused to adjudicate their applications stating that they are still in “administrative processing.” In the meantime, their health problems have worsened and their daughter fears what will happen if they are unable to join her in the U.S.
“There is simply no justifiable reason for the embassy to delay these applications and keep this elderly couple away from their daughter, who is a physician and can help care for them,” said CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Jennifer Nimer. “Like many other discriminatory immigration practices, most of the people affected by extreme administrative processing delays are Muslims.”
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, requests the Court to order the embassy to immediately issue a decision on the pending visa applications and requests attorney fees and damages.