Senator Warren Bringing Iraqi Refugee To Trump’s First Joint Address To Congress

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced Monday that a refugee from Iraq will accompany her to President Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress Tuesday night.

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Tiba Faraj, a refugee who came to the United States in 2010, will be Warren’s guest for the evening.

"Like many before her, Tiba came to America seeking a better life. Since arriving in Massachusetts, she has become a valued member of her community, through her commitment to volunteer work and academic excellence,” Warren said in a statement.

The senator’s press release described how Faraj reached the United States:
Faraj’s journey to the United States began in 2006, after her father was shot and left permanently disabled while working for an American backed development organization in Iraq. The Faraj family later fled to Jordan, where they began the lengthy process of applying for refugee status. After extensive screening, they were granted admission to the United States in 2010 and settled in the Commonwealth.

"Tiba’s courage, resilience and optimism embody the very best of the American spirit. Our strength as a country is rooted in our diversity, and Tiba’s many contributions have made us that much stronger,” Warren added.

Her office said Faraj’s family now lives in Boston.

The refugee became a U.S. citizen in 2016, and attends the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, where she studies accounting.

"We are so proud of Tiba for pursuing her own American dream while overcoming the challenges she and her family have faced,” UMass Dartmouth interim Chancellor Peyton R. Helm said in a statement. "Her success is an inspirational testament to her own perseverance and to the enduring values of our university, commonwealth, and our country.”

Warren’s move highlights her strong opposition to Trump’s immigration policies and his recent executive order that attempted to temporarily halt travel from seven Muslim-majority nations, including Iraq.

Over the weekend, Warren came under fire from the group Veterans Assisting Veterans, which said she puts illegal immigrants above those who served in the U.S. military.

In an open letter written by the group, it called the Massachusetts senator a "selfish political leader.”

"We’d like to see our leaders re-examine their priorities, put this at the forefront — if we have to, we’ll knock on some doors in D.C.,” said John MacDonald, spokesman for Veterans Assisting Veterans. "We need to take care of veterans first before we decide to take care of people who are illegally here.”

Other Democrats plan on bringing immigrants who have been affected by the president’s temporary travel ban.

Trump’s address is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. He is expected to talk about the economy, health care, his first month in office and the federal budget.