Updated: September 22, 2020
Originally Published: February 10, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 4:50 p.m. Dallas time | Thursday, January 26, 2:20 a.m. Iran time
As I sat in my office in Dallas, Texas, the overwhelming news hit me like a thunderclap. I quickly grabbed my cell phone and dialed my wife, who was deep in sleep in Tehran. It was the dead of night for her, but my heart raced as I tried to convey urgency. “Honey, we need to act fast! Can you pack in an hour for the 9 a.m. flight?” Her groggy response both calmed and terrified me. She hesitated, our son still asleep, the airport an hour away, and no bags packed; she had expected to return a week later.
The new U.S. president had just signed two executive orders targeting immigration, including one that raised alarms about barring certain permanent residents from re-entering the U.S. My wife, a permanent resident, was now in Iran with our son, and the situation felt dire.
A Bit About Us
I first encountered my wife, Sara, at a lively Argentine tango dance party. Drawn together by our shared love for dance, we soon fell in love and married. Now, we reside in Dallas with our one-year-old son, Max.
Sara, who had recently completed her PhD in electrical engineering, left for Tehran at the beginning of January to visit her family before starting her new job. We had planned her return for February 2, following a delightful family celebration planned by her relatives, complete with a giant cake and even ski trips in the nearby mountains.
The Deteriorating Situation
On January 23, I stumbled upon a Reuters article stating that the president would issue an executive order restricting entry for refugees and some visa holders from seven countries, including Iran. Initially, we thought her permanent resident status would shield her from any travel complications. We decided to proceed with our plans.
However, on January 24, I found a draft of the executive order indicating that some permanent residents would be affected. My heart sank; how could someone be barred from returning to their home? I immediately canceled my trip and secured tickets for Sara and Max to return sooner than planned.
Time was ticking. I frantically searched for flights leaving Tehran, finding a British Airways flight that could connect them to an American Airlines flight to Dallas. But there was a hitch: Sara didn’t have the necessary transit visa for London.
After a frantic search through official UK websites, I discovered an exemption for U.S. permanent residents. I had to reach Sara before she fell back asleep. After multiple failed attempts to reach her, I finally got through and urged her to leave immediately.
A Race Against Time
With Sara en route to the airport, I hurried to secure their tickets. However, the system was slow to issue e-tickets, and I faced the added challenge of booking Max’s ticket over the phone. After a series of anxious calls, I finally got both tickets confirmed.
Sara arrived just in time for her flight, but then I realized she had to change terminals at Heathrow, which filled me with dread. I advised her on the best way to navigate the airport, hoping for the best.
As the hours passed, I realized I hadn’t canceled my own flight yet. Once I did, I could only wait and pray that Sara and Max were safe onboard.
Homeward Bound
They landed in London and boarded their next flight to Dallas. My relief was palpable, but I couldn’t shake the anxiety of what might happen upon their arrival in DFW. I contacted my brother in Toronto, just in case they needed to flee to Canada if things went south.
As I nervously monitored the situation, I reminded myself that U.S. permanent residents could travel to Canada without restrictions. I even considered the possibility of relocating if things escalated further.
Final Thoughts
After a long day filled with uncertainty, I finally let out a sigh of relief when I received a message from Sara that they had made it through. They were safe and heading home.
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Summary
This narrative recounts the stressful experience of a husband, Restless in Texas, who rushed to bring his wife and child back from Iran amidst the panic caused by Trump’s travel ban. After a frantic search for flights and navigating complex immigration issues, they eventually returned home safely, highlighting the resilience and urgency that families can face during uncertain times.