Iraqis: U.S. Contractors Block Refugee Applications

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, NPR

A new U.S. law lets Iraqi employees who have risked their lives working for U.S. firms apply for refugee status in the United States. Some Iraqis tell NPR that U.S. contractors in Iraq reject requests for employment verification. In order to become eligible for the refugee program, companies must issue a letter to the employee confirming that they have worked for an American company.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, July 14, 2008