California group runs ‘underground railroad’ to assist Chaldean refugees from Iraq

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO — A Southern California nonprofit is running an “underground railroad” to assist Chaldean Catholics fleeing the turmoil in Iraq.
Thirty-two year old Mark Arabo tells The San Diego Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1hRZj99 ) that he founded the Minority Humanitarian Foundation out of impatience with Washington’s inability to deal with the crisis created by Islamic State militants.
PHOTO: This photo taken Aug. 20, 2015, shows Fadi Hirmiz near the San Ysidro border crossing. At home in Iraq, “I was afraid for my family, for our kids.” A Southern California nonprofit is running an “underground railroad” to assist Chaldean Catholics fleeing the turmoil in Iraq. (Alejandro Tamayo/U-T San Diego via AP)
This photo taken Aug. 20, 2015, shows Fadi Hirmiz near the San Ysidro border crossing. At home in Iraq, “I was afraid for my family, for our kids.” A Southern California nonprofit is running an “underground railroad” to assist Chaldean Catholics fleeing the turmoil in Iraq. (Alejandro Tamayo/U-T San Diego via AP)

He tells the newspaper the group runs an “underground railroad” that transports Iraqi refugees into San Diego. He says the group also seeks to help other persecuted religious minorities.

The newspaper said 27 Chaldeans are in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diego. To date, 15 have been ordered deported and five face criminal charges for entering the U.S. under false pretenses.

About 60,000 Chaldeans live in the San Diego suburb of El Cajon.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/0aca569448da47af8745895e10ab212c/US–Iraqi-Refugees-California