Thursday, February 16, 2017
PHOTOS: 11 Iraqi refugees reuniting with family in Spokane after Trump's immigration order put on hold
Three families. Eleven lives. Iraqi men, women and children — all of them refugees — came through the Spokane International Airport on Saturday.
Assad Al-Sawaedi, one of the refugees, notes that that same day back in Baghdad, cops clashed with demonstrators. At least seven died and hundreds were wounded. Coming to America may have saved his life.
This, ultimately, is what an executive order and a court case can mean to real people.
This week, we have the full story about the three families who arrived in Spokane after Attorney General Bob Ferguson's lawsuit caused President Donald Trump's executive order to be lifted. Read it now.
Then come back here and browse through our photos from families reuniting at the airport.
Assad Al-Sawaedi, one of the refugees, notes that that same day back in Baghdad, cops clashed with demonstrators. At least seven died and hundreds were wounded. Coming to America may have saved his life.
This, ultimately, is what an executive order and a court case can mean to real people.
This week, we have the full story about the three families who arrived in Spokane after Attorney General Bob Ferguson's lawsuit caused President Donald Trump's executive order to be lifted. Read it now.
Then come back here and browse through our photos from families reuniting at the airport.
Daniel Walters Photo
Hamid Nahi and his brother Assad Al-Sawaedi laugh about the ways they used to tease each other growing up in Iraq.
Daniel Walters photo
Reunited after many years, Hamid Nahi and his brother Assad Al-Sawaedi take a selfie to celebrate.
Young Kwak photo
Newly reunited brothers Hamid Nahi and Assad Al-Sawaedi hold hands — an Arab gesture of intense friendship or platonic love — as they walk to the baggage claim.
Daniel Walters photo
Hamid Nahi holds his 5-year-old neice Rahaf Al-Sawaedi, moments after she arrives in Spokane
Daniel Walters photo
Sabeeha Al-Sawaedi carries balloons as her son, Assad, carries his nephew, Cannon.
Young Kwak photo
Assad Al-Sawaedi holds his 7-month-old nephew while looking at a sign, held by his future sister-in-law Christine Lamb, celebrating the delicious American food that awaits them.
Daniel Walters photo
Iraqi refugee Rahaf Al-Sawaedi, holding two giant stuffed animals, meets her little cousin for the first time.
Daniel Walters photo
Iraqi refugee Rahaf Al-Sawaedi scopes out the Spokane airport while holding a brightly colored stuffed bear.
Daniel Walters photo
Iraqi refugee Rahaf Al-Sawaedi, holding two giant stuffed animals, meets her little cousin for the first time.
Young Kwak photo
Hamid Nahi embraces his niece, Rahaf Al-Sawaedi, in the Spokane International Airport.
Young Kwak photo
Brothers Hamid Nahi and Assad Al-Sawaedi embrace with their children in their arms.
Daniel Walters photo
Moments after arriving in Spokane, Raghad Al-Sawaedi holds her nephew, Cannon Nahi, for the first time.
Daniel Walters photo
Ryan Fisher, one of Hamid's best friends, recalls their shared history of working at Camp Victory in Iraq.
Young Kwak photo
Montaha Alsammarraie, right, a refugee from Iraq, hugs her 11-year-old grandson Ali Samir.
Daniel Walters photo
Iraqi refugees Talib Baghdadi and Montaha Alsammarraie greet family members after arriving in America.
Young Kwak photo
Talib Baghdadi, right, a refugee from Iraq who arrived on a flight, hands 3-year-old Haya Baghdadi to his daughter-in-law Hamsa Fahan.
Young Kwak photo
Talib Baghdadi, left, a refugee from Iraq who arrived on a flight, kisses his 10-year-old grandson Ibrahim Samir on the cheek.
Young Kwak photo
12-year-old Omar Kahiri a refugee from Iraq who arrived on a flight Saturday hugs his cousin Asma Abdul Almhos.
Daniel Walters photo
World Relief's Nancy Goodwin readies a "Welcome to America" sign to greet two refugee families arriving at the Spokane International Airport.
Daniel Walters photo
A refugee family, reunited, poses with World Relief's Nancy Goodwin and a "Welcome to America" sign.
Daniel Walters photo
Asma Abdul Almhos records the arrival of her family, flying in from Turkey. She got in before Trump's executive order, but her cousin — scheduled for a later flight — couldn't fly out until the order was temporarily lifted.
Photo courtesy of Hamid Nahi
Rahaf Al-Sawaedi wanted to play with her 2-year-old cousin Rya in the snow, but when Trump's order came down, she was worried that it would melt before she would arrive in America. On Sunday, they finally got a chance to play in the snow.
Daniel Walters photo
Assad Al-Sawaedi, sitting in his brother's house on Monday, says he loved his Old Navy shirt with the big American flag on it. But, for obvious reasons, he didn't feel all that safe wearing it in public in Iraq.
Daniel Walters photo
Iraqi refugee Hamid Nahi and his 2-year-old daughter painted this American Flag on a distressed American flag for Veteran's Day.
© 2025 Inlander
