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Kevin Whitelaw reports on the US Government's granting of 167 visas for former Iraqi and Afghan translators, now allowed US residency.

To read Kevin's report, visit: http://fe27.news.sp1.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20070905/ts_usnews/iraqitranslat...

As many as 2 million Iraqi refugees have fled the violence at home, but the Bush administration has been criticized for allowing very few of them into the United States.

Even Iraqis who had been working for the U.S. military as much-needed translators, and who then found their lives threatened for their work with the Americans, had been largely frozen out.

But for translators at least, the picture is finally beginning to change. In just the past two months, 167 visas have been issued to Iraqi and Afghan translators to come to the United States along with their families, according to a State Department spokesperson. These visas were issued under a new program approved by Congress in June that allows up to 500 visas to be issued this year and in 2008 to Afghan or Iraqi translators who worked for the U.S. military or a U.S. embassy. Family members are eligible to come along with them.

So, you've read the papers, watched the news footage, and you want to help?

Thank you! Here are some steps that you can take to make a difference.

• Contact your MP
  • If you have not contacted your MP before, what better reason could there be than to help save lives?
  • Don't know how to reach your MP? No problem! Visit http://www.theyworkforyou.com/, enter your postcode, et voila: you can use the site not only to send them your email, but also to track the responses given.
• "Stuck for words"? Try these possibilities:
  • Ask your MP—whether s/he acknowledges the clear and present danger that current and former Iraqi translators and contractors face in the Middle East?
  • Ask your MP—if s/he would support calling on the UK Government to immediately change policy and ensure the safe extraction and evacuation of those Iraqi translators or contractors identified to be at risk?
  • Ask your MP—to press the Government to prove that the issue is being dealt with under a directive to employ the utmost urgency
  • Ask your MP—to call for comments from among your fellow constituents
  • Dan's Hardie's blog, http://danhardie.wordpress.com/ has some sample letters
    

We are holding a briefing on 9th October 2007 in London, to update British Members of Parliament (MPs) and invited guests, on the current situation regarding Iraqi translators and locally employed contractors (LEC's) who are at risk. Please ensure that your elected representative is aware of this date, and ask him/her to attend the briefing.

The meeting will take place in Parliament in Committee Room 14 (St Stephen’s Entrance) from 7-9pm on Tuesday 9th October 2007.

To contact your MP, visit www.TheyWorkForYou.com.

We have already made sure invitations have been sent to every British MP, but knowing they are representing interested constituents gives them the best reason to attend.