Monday was an exciting day in the history of “My Take, By Tamara.” Mohammad, the translator featured in the 10/19 broadcast of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, found my tweet (all of my blog posts are hash-tagged and publicized via Twitter and Facebook), “favorited” it and then responded to thank me for contacting Congress. He also asked that I request they look into his case (his efforts to bring his family to the states) and to forward via email any replies received from Congress.

His exact tweet was as follows:

.@TamaraAMeasler Thx4contacting reps! Ask them to contact @USCIS re our case+email us rep’s reply? savemohammadsfamily@gmail.com #LeaveNoOne

How can I fail to do his simple request? A small favor, to reach out to Congress on his behalf, is easy in comparison to the difficulties he’s experienced after helping American military forces in Afghanistan. It’s also a great way to be kind to one specific translator who reached out in response to my blog post. In fact, it would be UNkind not to.

I replied to Mohammad, letting him know I would definitely ask my Congressman to look at his case and would also ask my blog readers to do the same.

Can you take five minutes to email your Congressman or Congresswoman? If required, follow these links for Congressional contact information:Find Your Congressman and Contacting the Congress.

In case you don’t have the time to craft your own email, I’ve written one (included below) for your use. And if you prefer not to forward any Congressional responses to Mohammad via email (as noted above in his tweet), send them to me and I will forward them for you.

Please consider being kind to this one specific translator who has had a difficult time.

Sample Email:

Dear Congressman / Congresswoman _________________________________,

I’ve recently heard about the difficulties of Iraqi and Afghani translators, who helped our military efforts in both those countries, in getting visas for entry into the United States.

Considering the help the translators have provided and the dangers many of them face at home specifically because they helped us, it’s the least we can do to help them in return.

As a voting constituent, I felt it was my duty to write to you about this matter.

Specifically, will you consider the following three requests?

• Please work to extend the legislation granting visas for these translators and their families for as long as it takes to get them through the bureaucratic process.
• See what can be done to simplify or expedite the process while still maintaining the appropriate security measures.
• Please ask Customs and Immigration to review the case of Mohammad FNU and allow his family members to join him in the states. Mohammad was recently featured on the 10/19 broadcast of Last Week Tonight; this link will take you to the video clip of that broadcast.

Thank you for your time and consideration; it is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]

[Your email address here]

[Your mailing address here]