Iraqi Translators Search for Fresh Start in U.S.

Nov. 24, 2008— -- A few weeks ago, Yousra was a beloved swim instructor at her town's community pool near Seattle, teaching children how to float, dive and hold their breath underwater. What her students didn't know was that Yousra had been a championship swimmer in her native country of Iraq -- and that she had to leave her home two years ago because her job, working as a translator for the U.S. Army, had become too dangerous.

"A lady who was working with me was kidnapped, and she disappeared for a very long time," said Yousra, who began working with the U.S. Army after the war began in 2003. "They really hurt her. That really scared me."

Since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, thousands of interpreters have served side by side with U.S. forces. To date, nearly 800 interpreters from both countries combined have been issued visas to move to the United States with their families.

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About 300 interpreters and translators have been murdered since 2003. And as of Sept. 21, a new military regulation requires many interpreters working in Baghdad to go into the field without their masks. The goal is to foster trust between the military and Iraqi civilians, but some interpreters worry that the rule exposes them to greater risk.

Murad, another translator for the U.S. military, was targeted by insurgents. "One of my colleagues got killed," said Murad, whose last name, like Yousra's, is not being used to guard his safety. "It's very scary, and nobody can defend you."

Thanks to some of the U.S. soldiers with whom they served, Yousra and Murad were able to get special immigrant visas, which are designed to help people who have risked their lives serving the U.S. government .

Yousra, her husband and their three young sons arrived in this country in July 2007. (Their oldest son, who remained in Iraq, is slated to arrive in the near future.)

Although she applied for dozens of jobs, she could not find steady work. Since arriving, her family has been living off its dwindling savings and on donations from a local church.

Yousra was surprised and disappointed. "I thought this program was well planned, and when we were going to come here, we were going to find jobs or probably work for the military from here, but it was all the other way around."