Family of Hate Crime Victim Granted U.S. Residency

Congressman Rush Holt's Bill Marks Major Milestone for South Asian American Rights

Waqar, a Pakistani national, had moved to Dallas from Milltown, New Jersey, to open the store so he could better provide for his wife, Duri, and four daughters, Nida, now 21; Asna, 19; Anum, 17; and Iqra, 14. The family was going to move to Dallas as well, but continued to live in Milltown after Waqar’s death.

The bill, which is expected to receive the president’s signature and finally take effect, will provide the Hasans with what is rightfully theirs, Holt said.

“Our country has an obligation to help this hardworking family put the tragedy of Sept. 15, 2001, behind them and restore the dream of a better life that brought them to America. I urge the president to quickly sign this bill so the Hasans can begin a new chapter in their lives,” he said in a statement.

Waqar was in the U.S. on a work visa, which allowed for his family to live with him in Milltown. The visa expired when he was killed, and his family’s green card applications had not been completed.

Since then, the Hasans have been required to renew annual work permits and have not been eligible for any federal aid.

Duri works nights in a foam-cup factory, while Nida is a junior at Rutgers’ Cook College in New Brunswick and Asna is a sophomore at Kean University, Union.

Anum is a senior at Spotswood High School, where Iqra is a freshman.

Duri was so relieved by the news, she didn’t know who to call first.

“I got excited and called everybody. My family, my sister, my parents. They were very excited,” she said, adding that some of them could hardly believe the news.

“My sister was like, ‘Really? Are you sure?’ ”

Stroman, who is on death row for the murder of an Indian immigrant, has been quoted as saying he was “doing what every American wanted to do but didn’t” by targeting Arab-Americans after 9/11.

Holt said Stroman went on a vengeful, violent spree of hate crimes, while it was the Hasans who embodied true American values. He also said that Stroman’s is not the image of Americans that should be projected to the world.

“If we are to demonstrate to Muslims in America and around the world that we are a tolerant and compassionate people, we must honor Waqar Hasan’s life by giving his family the chance for a new beginning that he worked so hard for,” Holt said.

Duri said she felt the bill’s passage does honor her husband’s memory, as well bring to light the sacrifices he made for his family.

Duri added that she is grateful to Holt for taking her family under his wing.

“I am really thankful to Rush Holt and his staff. They treated us like we are members of their family,” she said, adding that she was moved by everybody who supported her family and voiced their encouragement throughout the process.

“There are so many organizations and people I met that prayed for us and sent letters,” she said. “My friends, family — everyone was praying for this moment.

When Waqar was brutally killed, however, his family's American future was placed in jeopardy. Their visas and green card applications were both dependent upon his visa. When he died, their visas and hope of American citizenship died with him. Their cause was taken up by Congressman Holt, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry (Trenton), the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, the Church World Services/Immigration and Refugee Program, and the Arab American Institute. These organizations, along with NASABA, mobilized contacts within and outside the government to save the remaining family members from deportation.

"By approving this Bill, the President gives the Hasan family permanent residency, and in doing so, upholds the values of freedom and justice that are so much a part our American doctrine," said Senator Chambliss (R-GA)

"Our country has an obligation to help this hardworking family put the tragedy of September 15th, 2001 behind them, and restore the dream of a better life that brought them to America. I urge the President to quickly sign this bill so this family can begin a new, and hopefully brighter, chapter in their lives," said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) at a press conference held in his office on October 12th.