Milltown family hopes to stay in America

Wife, daughters of man
killed in bias attack
in fear of deportation
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

It hasn’t been the American dream, but the family of Waqar Hasan remains hopeful.

Fifteen months ago, the 46-year-old Hasan was murdered in his Texas convenience store, leaving his wife and four daughters behind. Hasan’s killer, who later said he was targeting Muslims and Arab-Americans in retaliation for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is now on death row.

"We are handling it, but it is very difficult," said Hasan’s widow, Durreshahwar, 37, who resides with her daughters on Washington Avenue in Milltown. "Even though you miss the person at any moment, you have to go on with your life. ... That’s why we came here, for a bright future."

In search of better opportunities, Hasan immigrated to the United States from Pakistan in 1993. A year later, he sent for his family.

"He wanted us to have a better life and a better education," Durreshahwar said.

Since Hasan’s death, his family’s future in America has been in jeopardy.

Hasan, who had come to the United States on an immigrant visa, had filed for a green card for both himself and his family. However, his family’s visas and green card applications were both dependent on Hasan’s visa. If their temporary visas are not renewed in April, the family will face deportation to Pakistan.

"Going back [to Pakistan] would be terrible," Durreshahwar said.

"There is a lot of political corruption. My husband’s business was robbed twice there, while we were held at gunpoint," she said. "My father-in-law and brother-in-law were kidnapped there for ransom."

However, last week, Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) offered the Hasan family one last hope. Exhausting all legal possibilities, Holt introduced a private relief bill to grant green cards to Hasan’s family.

While Holt assisted the family in obtaining temporary work permits from the International Nationalization Services, there is no guarantee that those permits will be renewed, according to representatives of Holt’s office.

The bill, however, is not a sure thing, said Holt’s spokesman, Jim Kapsus. The bill would have to be placed on the agenda of both the House of Representatives and a national immigration subcommittee before the legislation is approved.

"It’s not going to be easy, but it’s got a good chance," Kapsus said.

In the meantime, members of the Hasan family are struggling to establish themselves in America.

Facing financial hardships, Durreshahwar works the night shift beginning at 2 a.m. in a foam cup factory in Metuchen.

Her eldest daughter, Nida, 19, a freshman at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, is studying biology, while working in an office at the college.

Asna, 17, a senior at Spotswood High School who hopes to be a school teacher, works afternoons at a daycare center to help support her family. Iqra, 12, and Anum, 15, also attend schools in Spotswood.

"They don’t have memories about Pakistan," Durreshahwar said.

Despite their hardships, the Hasan family intends to pursue their dreams.

"We are hoping we can stay in America," Durreshahwar said. "It was my husband’s dream."