Imagine just sitting down in your store, waiting for customers. Suddenly the glass entrance door banged open with a loud thump. Instead of panicking at the sight of the large male in a ski mask, you jump into action, looking for the landline. You never got to it, because in moments, you are writhing on the floor clutching at your stomach, and watching as the intruder runs out.

On November 21st 2002, a man by the name of Azhar Ali moved to Minnesota to seek a job to support his family. He had to leave his wife Mariam, and his two daughters, both younger than 10, in Yemen. There, poverty is the norm, and clean water, or even food, was hard to come by. Azhar didn’t want that to be his family’s future.

In 2003, Azhar became the manager of a gas station. On July 4th he gave the rest of the staff a break, and watched over the store himself. While watching the camera footage, you see Azhar get up to go to the back of the store where a light was dying out, but then, a man in a ski mask ran in, shot him before he even had the chance call 911, took the money in the cash register, and left. Azhar suffered 2 shots, one in his stomach, and the other in his leg, which paralyzed him to where he was incapable of movement, and speech.

His family pleaded with the United States Embassy in Yemen to allow them passage into the U.S, but they refused to give them a visa for another 5 months. After asking a few students what their reactions would be like in these situations, their answers and emotions were all over the place, but all had something in common. Lizzy Gunder, (9th grade) said “ Well. I would do the best to take care of my little sister and my mom.” then she laughed. Though she took the news seriously, she still couldn’t quite wrap her head around the fact that this could happen. Ruwayda Mohamed, (12th grade) said “Um. I’d just get angry. I mean you’re 5 years old, you can’t comprehend what’s happening”. All the student interviewed were having trouble being put into that position. The sad part is, that the experience is a reality, even today.

After 6 months, the little girl’s’ father died. Though they requested passage to the U.S, they never got to see their dad again. They lived on in life, and after receiving their dad’s green card 5 years after his death, they moved to the U.S. Today, they live in California, and Pennsylvania, both happily married, and with kids.

Do you think that the U.S Embassy’s actions were justified? Lizzy Gunder (9th grade) said, “ There are so many different factors that go into allowing people to come to the U.S, and the Embassy’s choice was set under a set of rules that they have to follow. I mean, they can’t just let everybody into America ”. Others’ reactions differed. Sahra Mohamed (10th grade) said, “ No. I don’t think it’s justified at all. If a child’s father passes away, whether he’s where she is or halfway around the world, they should have the right to see them and pay their respects”. Ruwayda Mohamed (12th grade) said “ No, and no. clearly. They should have informed the family about what happened to their father, and not keep them wondering for 6 months, and then tell them ‘ Your dad’s dead’”.

All students had different viewpoints but the question is, how would you feel if you were put in the little girl’s’ point of view? Would you have given up without a fight?