A Refugee Family Arrives in Arkansas, Before the Door Shuts
An estimated 60 percent of refugees resettled in the United States already have family ties here, but only about a quarter of those from Congo and Syria, two blood-soaked countries
that are among the biggest sources of refugees, have any connection to America, according to Church World Service, a large resettlement agency.
John Feruzi, 21, a nephew raised since infancy by Mr. Mwenda and his wife, Nyasa Safi, fled with them to Malawi
but was not allowed to travel to the United States for reasons that remain unclear.
Among the other "free cases" fortunate enough to arrive before the doors closed on Thursday were a Somali mother, Nadifo Farah,
and her three children, including one with spina bifida, who have been resettled in Grand Rapids, Mich. "I am very thankful I am here and able to get medical support for my son," Ms. Farah, 31, said.
Jules Mwenda said that We had never heard of Arkansas,
that We are very happy to be here, but we are not complete,
French said that Ah, we lived well in the Congo,