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He hired him as a translator during the Iraq war. Now, a Dallas attorney’s years-long fight to get him to America safely is over

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He hired him as a translator during the Iraq war. Now, a Dallas attorney’s years-long fight to get him to America safely is over


On Friday, lawyer and Military veteran Allen Vaught will reunite with an Iraqi translator he hasn’t seen since 2004. The translator has dodged execution for years.

DALLAS, Texas — In 2011, the Iraq Warfare reached a bookend. The final of lots of of hundreds of troops began to withdraw from the realm, and the mission within the area was seemingly over. 

However for Dallas lawyer Allen Vaught, his mission hadn’t ended. 

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Actually, it was simply getting began. 

Vaught served within the warfare and was among the many first troops to invade in 2003. 

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As a captain within the Military, his job was to assist arrange localized and U.S.-supported governments as Saddam Hussein’s regime fell. 

He wanted assist from Iraqi translators to do it, and for the previous 15 years, he is labored tirelessly alongside different immigration attorneys to deliver all of the linguists he labored with who’re nonetheless alive to America safely. 

On Friday, Vaught will reunite on Texas soil along with his final translator, who’s been on the run for years. 

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The translator, who we’ll solely identify “Sam” for his and his household’s safety, has lived the previous decade dodging militias, terrorist teams and anybody keen to execute somebody within the Center East who helped Individuals. 

“I have been engaged on this since 2011,” Vaught mentioned. “It has been lots of of hours simply, the battles in Iraq with Sam, we had folks capturing at us. This battle, it has been a battle of purple tape.” 

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Vaught employed 5 translators in complete to assist obtain his targets laid out by the U.S. Military. 

To at the present time, he feels guilt over it. Many translators who helped America are wished males. And quite a few them, if captured, had been executed and tortured. 

Vaught instructed WFAA that two of his translators had been executed since they had been employed — one was burned alive. 

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“They’d costs placed on their heads, and Sam is the final one alive,” Vaught mentioned. 

In 2007 and 2008, Vaught was in a position to struggle to get two of his translators dwelling. 

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They’re now U.S. residents. However on the time, the method was extra simple. The U.S. allowed them to come back to America by way of the Particular Immigrant Visa (SIV) program to reward linguists for his or her providers. 

However Sam stayed alongside U.S. troops till 2011, and as soon as the warfare had wrapped up, Vaught mentioned Sam needed to apply to enter the U.S. as a refugee. 

The final time Vaught had spoken to Sam? 2004. 

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Vaught and different troopers had been ambushed, and he broke his again in 5 locations. 

He acquired a medical discharge, however not earlier than Sam drove miles by way of hostile territory to examine on Vaught to verify he was alright. 

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“I used to be dumbfounded,” Vaught mentioned. “He did not have to do this.” 

“He ended up sending me a Fb message, and we reconnected. Sadly, the refugee course of is fairly difficult, and it has been that manner for a few years.” 

Vaught was in a position to get Sam accredited to come back to the U.S., however issues hit a snag after President Donald Trump was elected. His government orders laid out journey bans for residents of sure Center Japanese international locations, together with Iraq. 

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Vaught filed swimsuit in opposition to the bans and ended up successful, however inside two weeks of a fly-out date, COVID-19 hit the world. 

“Increase. Covid occurs, and every thing shuts down,” Vaught mentioned. “It added one other delay.” 

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Vaught mentioned Sam was caught in Egypt for the final two years till he may journey to america. 

He lastly received right here a number of weeks in the past and has been staying in California, ready to come back to Texas, the place Vaught might be his sponsor. 

His flight arrives at Dallas Love Subject on Friday. Vaught says he’ll stick with him till he can get Sam a job and a brand new life. 

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“We have not seen one another since he got here to examine on me in 2004, very excited to see him,” Vaught mentioned. 

For Vaught, it is going to be the top of the mission he started so way back. 

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“I actually really feel just like the warfare might be over for me at that time,” Vaught mentioned. “I’ve all the time felt responsible about what occurred to the translators we employed as a result of I used to be the one who employed them.” 

“I owe Sam. I in all probability would not be giving this effort for anybody else.” 

If you would like to assist Sam–a GoFundMe has been created to assist him get located in America. 

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott enjoys vacation with his family weeks after sexual assault lawsuit is dropped

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Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott enjoys vacation with his family weeks after sexual assault lawsuit is dropped


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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is enjoying some time off as he prepares for another NFL season.

Prescott was seen at a private airport in Mexico with his family as he enjoys his vacation to Cabo.

He was seen without a walking boot on after he reportedly injured his ankle. 

Just days ago, he was seen walking in some protective footwear but these recent photos seem to show that isn’t needed anymore.

It’s been a long offseason for Prescott, who recently saw a sexual assault lawsuit that was filed against him dismissed.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was seen photographed in Cabo San Lucas

He was there with family and friends as he enjoyed his vacation down in Mexico

He was there with family and friends as he enjoyed his vacation down in Mexico

According to online court records, a Judge Angela Tucker in Colin County, Texas tossed the suit at the end of last month. 

The judge has also set a hearing on September 13 of this year to determine if any further sanctions should be levied against Prescott’s accuser, Victoria Shores, and her legal team. 

Levi McCathern, the attorney for Prescott, released a statement in the aftermath of the decision.

‘Despite Ms. Shores and her legal team’s relentless efforts to extort money and damage Dak’s reputation,’ McCathern said, ‘justice has consistently prevailed and will continue to do so.’

‘The original lies by Ms. Shores, her team, and their recent failed attempt to sue him civilly are all just a continuation of their extortion plot against Dak. 

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‘These ploys distract from the trauma of legitimate sexual assault survivors and undermine the progress that our society has made in supporting them. 

‘We are proud that Dak stands up against this injustice and thankful Judge Tucker agrees’.

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Dallas Cowboys 7th-round pick could be surprise impact player in 2024

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Dallas Cowboys 7th-round pick could be surprise impact player in 2024


It’s hard to find a position with more questions on the Dallas Cowboys’ current roster than at defensive tackle. While the unit has some concerns outside Osa Odighizuwa, the nose tackle spot is a significant problem.

Dallas will be leaning on Mazi Smith, a 2023 first-round selection who struggled as a rookie and has a lot to prove in year two. Behind him is a veteran who has hardly seen the field in Carl Davis, a seventh-round pick in Justin Rogers, and an undrafted free agent in Denzel Daxon.

Of the three reserves, Rogers is best suited to force his way onto the field, and as Patrik Walker of the team’s official website pointed out, he has a lot of potential. He also said D-tackle remains the greatest need, a sentiment shared by every writer on staff as they looked ahead to the 2024 campaign.

“The success at DT will be predicated upon the stellar play of Osa Odighizuwa and …? Thus, my point. Mazi Smith is pressured to have a breakout season and so is Chauncey Golston. Justin Rogers is a rookie late-rounder with lots of potential but a large learning curve, and the same applies to undrafted rookie Denzel Daxon, while Carl Davis hopes to fight his way onto the roster.” — Walker, DallasCowboys.com

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Justin Rogers, Dallas Cowboys

Justin Rogers / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Rogers looks the part, standing just over 6-foot-2 and weighing 330 pounds. He also knows how to keep his pad level low and win with leverage — while not being afraid of using his hands against opposing offensive linemen.

He spent three years with the Kentucky Wildcats, where he had 60 tackles and three sacks. Rogers transferred to Auburn for his final season in the NCAA and added another 17 tackles and one sack.

MORE: Dak has multiple Cowboys all-time passing record in his sights

Rogers didn’t fill up the stat sheet and isn’t going to put up highlight-reel plays. What he can do, however, is clog up the running lanes, something he did often in the SEC which is no easy task. For the Cowboys, that’s exactly what they need after losing Johnathan Hankins in free agency.

It’s never a guarantee that seventh-round picks make the roster but Rogers feels like a lock since he’s exactly what this defensive line needs. He could also be in for an impactful role as a rookie, especially early as Mazi Smith is still working his way back to full health following shoulder surgery in the offseason.

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— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI 

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Dallas should be the leader in supporting DART

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Dallas should be the leader in supporting DART


As North Texas grows, Dallas should take the lead in mobility and public transportation. That means staying committed to Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Instead, Dallas is leading in the wrong direction. The city has talked about using DART funds to cover massive pension obligations. Similar talks continued at a Government Performance and Financial Management Committee meeting last month, when council members approved a legislative priority to “seek restructuring of DART sales tax contribution.”

The full City Council will discuss the proposal and vote on it this fall. Council members didn’t commit to much, and deliberately left the language open-ended so it can be fleshed out in later discussions.

Still, we don’t like where this conversation is going. Plano’s and Rowlett’s city councils have already passed resolutions in support of cutting sales tax funding to DART.

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Dallas-Fort Worth’s population is projected to keep growing by huge margins for the next couple of decades, adding millions of jobs in the process, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Not only can DART continue to help drive economic development as it has for decades, it can also help move a growing workforce while reducing congestion on already crowded roads, making the region more competitive. And for those without access to cars, DART’s services are critical.

Plano shouldn’t try to slash DART funding

Dallas residents depend on DART far more than those from neighboring suburbs, with over 70% of riders hailing from the city, according to a May memo. How DART is treated around the horseshoe should reflect that.

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Make no mistake, DART has work to do. During the pandemic, between fiscal years 2019 and 2021, DART’s ridership nearly halved, down from just over 70 million to about 36 million, according to a DART spokesperson. Since then, ridership has crept back upward, with DART providing around 50 million rides across all modes of transportation last fiscal year.

Total ridership at the end of this fiscal year is projected to be about 58 million, a DART spokesperson said. Reaching that number would represent good progress, but would still leave room for improvement.

From the 26-mile Silver Line that will stretch from Plano to DFW International Airport to added security, cleaning crews and a system modernization program that will see 95 light rail vehicles and 522 buses replaced, among other upgrades, DART has invested millions over the last few years to boost ridership and improve service. Those efforts appear to be working and deserve time to play out.

The answer to DART’s troubles should not be disinvestment but instead to work with the agency on long-term solutions. Billions have been invested in DART over the years. Treating that as a sunk cost would be incredibly shortsighted.

DART and its member cities can still help each other grow, and Dallas can set an example. In a city committed to an equality of opportunity DART can help provide, that should be a no-brainer.

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We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com



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