Guardian: Disfigured Syrian Girl Refused US Visa

Under Donald Trump’s travel ban, the United States denied a visa to a 16-year-old Syrian refugee seeking medical treatment for burns from a bomb attack that left her disfigured. The Guardian notes that Marwa had settled in Nuremberg, Germany, with her family. There, doctors advised the family to seek advance treatment in the United States, “following 13 operations to repair trauma from third-degree burns to her face, arms and chest.” Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston had confirmed a November appointment while a volunteer agency in Massachusetts offered Marwa and her father temporary housing. The US government denied her visa on December 20, suggesting that “there was not enough evidence to prove she would return to Germany.” Marwa’s many advocates argue that her entire immediate family, including grandparents and uncles, have resettled in Germany. The US government continues to stand by its policy that has made it nearly impossible for people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria, to enter the United States. Consular offices may issue visa waivers on a per case basis, yet “these waivers are rarely granted and the process for getting once lacks transparency.” –YaleGlobal