March was supposed to be an auspicious month for Abdelsalam Elshaikh and Israa Taha, a chance for them to pursue their long-awaited career aspirations and to begin their lives together as a family.
Elshaikh and Taha, who are married, have each dreamed of becoming physicians in the United States since growing up in Sudan. And next month, Elshaikh, who now lives in Minnesota, will find out whether he “matched” for a residency program.
By that time, Taha was supposed to have arrived in the United States herself. The couple was also planning their delayed honeymoon: a vacation to Florida to see family, with a detour to Disney World.
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Dear Taha,
Please accept the sincere apology of one American who is mortified by the passage of the travel ban. Contrary to Trump’s current pandering to his fans, the US depends on the contributions of immigrant doctors in our health-care system. I hope that you will be able to join your husband here in the US. I also wish you both the greatest success as physicians.
Jill
Ditto
What an inspiring couple, and what a great attitude toward the challenges of moratorium: watchful waiting.