Enji hugging her father, Muntasser, for the first time in more than 9 years at the airport in the United States
Father and daughter begin a long-awaited new chapter
For nearly a decade, war and displacement kept Enji separated from her parents, Muntasser and Taghreed. After getting married and moving to Abu Dhabi, Enji’s family remained in Iraq, while her father Muntasser relocated to Jordan in 2014 to escape the advancing threat of ISIS. In 2015, he resettled in the United States, leaving behind his daughter and her young family. Living across borders, they were determined to be together again. It wasn’t long until Enji and her husband Ibrahim’s lives were interrupted by the same conflict that uprooted Muntasser. The family faced unimaginable challenges, including years of waiting and hope deferred.
“Every time we had hope, it was shattered,” Enji recalled.
In 2023, when the Welcome Corps launched “Sponsor Someone You Know,” that hope was renewed. Joined by his nephew Ayden, Muntasser embarked on a deeply personal mission to reunite with his daughter Enji. After years of heartbreaking separation, the Welcome Corps made their long-awaited reunion possible.
“When I saw my daughter again at the airport, I cried. I had only seen her once in Jordan since she left,” Muntasser said. “Missing important moments—like when her daughter was christened—it felt like a piece of my heart was missing.”
Ayden shared the sentiment, saying, “Exile is hard,” as he reflected on all that Muntasser had missed.
The Long Road to Reunion
Enji and Ibrahim’s journey began in Iraq, but the threat of ISIS drove them to the UAE where they hoped to find safety and stability. In 2014, Enji married Ibrahim and moved with him to the UAE where his family resided, her only option due to safety concerns in Iraq. A year later, they baptized their daughter in Jordan; this would be the last time Muntasser would see them in person for nearly a decade. The families stayed in touch through video chat apps, constantly checking in on progress to relocate to the United States.
In Dubai, Enji’s husband Ibrahim worked as a portfolio manager while she dreamed of continuing her studies. In the United States, Muntasser spent time with his family, including his two other daughters who had already resettled, all while keeping a close eye on Enji’s case, holding onto the hope of reuniting with her. He spent the days playing with his other grandchildren and tending to his small garden.
Every step forward was met with another setback—a travel delay, shifting policies, and safety concerns forcing Enji to relocate once again.
Despite the uncertainty, the family remained hopeful they would be together again one day. When Ayden learned about the Welcome Corps program through social media, he decided to form a sponsor group, holding a family meeting with Munstasser, Taghreed, and their sons-in-law Samer and Salam to learn more. Though skeptical at first, Ayden was determined to bring Enji and Ibrahim to safety. The whole family gathered to take the Welcome Corps training together, and they consulted an immigration attorney to avoid any mistakes in their application.
Left: The Karkokle Sponsor Group at the airport. From left to right: Muntasser (center) is joined by his sons in law Samer and Salam (left), his nephew Ayden, and his wife Taghreed (right)
Right: The Karkokle family, including Muntasser’s three daughters, grandchildren, joined by Una Bilic of the International Rescue Committee
A New Chapter Begins
Finally in 2024 after years of uncertainty, Enji, Ibrahim, and their daughter Rawan arrived in the United States through the Welcome Corps.
Muntasser’s group was paired with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to guide them throughout the sponsorship process. As a Private Sponsor Organization, the IRC played a vital role, from welcoming Enji and Ibrahim at the airport to helping them settle into their new home. Before their arrival, the IRC met with the group to review program requirements, housing, and arrival logistics. After arrival, the IRC helped the group navigate public health benefits and refugee documentation to ensure a smooth transition.
Una Bilic, the Deputy Director for New Resettlement Pathways at the IRC, accompanied the group to the airport with her daughter. As they watched the emotional reunion unfold, Una’s daughter turned to her and asked, “Mom, why are you crying?” Fighting back tears, Una said, “I couldn’t explain it to her. I just hope she never has to go through anything like this.”
The family’s resilience and determination paid off, and their decision to join the Welcome Corps marked the beginning of a new chapter. Enji is now looking to pursue a college degree, exploring new career paths after years of disrupted education due to the war.
“I studied for three years in Iraq, but my education was interrupted when ISIS entered,” Enji said. “I ended up working in Dubai, taking courses in child psychology, early years education, and management. Now that we’re here, I want to go back to college and get my bachelor’s degree. I’m thinking of studying business or management.”
Ibrahim, who has experience managing home projects in Dubai, is now working at a mobile company. Their daughter, Rawan, started school this September—a milestone the family has eagerly awaited.
“We didn’t leave because we didn’t like home. We left for safety and our children’s future.”
Muntasser, refugee
Muntasser beams with pride, saying, “I don’t ever want them to leave again.”For Ayden, the reunion represents more than just personal joy—it’s a powerful reminder of the strong family bonds that drive so many refugees to seek reunification.
“Family is everything in our culture,” he said. “We didn’t leave because we didn’t like home. We left for safety and our children’s future.”
Today, the family’s future is brighter, and Muntasser hopes that Enji, Ibrahim, and Rawan will never leave his side again. To celebrate this new beginning, he joyfully marked Rawan’s first birthday in the United States, a moment that felt like the culmination of years of longing and perseverance.
Ibrahim, Enji, and Rawan celebrating Rawan’s 9th birthday and the first among her family in the United States
As they settle into their new lives, the family wants to pay it forward, using their experience to support other refugees navigating similar paths. Through the Welcome Corps, they’ve not only reunited their family but have found a renewed sense of purpose—building new memories and celebrating life’s moments together, with an eye toward the future.