Keller High School Senior Prepares to Graduate Without Father

A Keller High School senior is preparing to graduate next month, but her Syrian father won’t be there to watch her walk across the stage because the U.S. government won’t grant him permission to visit.

Jasmine Kayal, 17, was born in the U.S. and is an American citizen. She lives in Keller with her mother and two brothers.

Her father, Dr. Hayan Kayal, a neurosurgeon, now lives in the relative safety of Iraq after he fled the violence in Syria.

His family said he has visited every few months for about two weeks at a time and has followed every immigration rule.

Dr. Kayal last visited in February after a federal judge suspended President Trump’s travel ban and was featured in an NBC 5 news report.

“I’m happy to visit my family here now,” he said in an interview after he landed at DFW International Airport.

He returned to Iraq a few weeks later, his visa expired, and the U.S. government denied his request for a new one, his family said.

Jasmine Kayal's high school graduation is May 27th.

"He's my dad,” she said. “This is really important to me."

The visa issue is separate from the travel ban, which has been blocked by two federal judges.

But the result is the same. He is unable to come to the U.S.

In an emailed statement, the State Department said it reviews every visa request on a case-by-case basis.

“The Department of State makes every effort to facilitate legitimate travel by international visitors,” a spokesperson wrote. “However, we are also fully committed to administering U.S. immigration law and ensuring the integrity and security of our country’s borders.”

Jasmine Kayal said her father is not a security risk.

"He's not a terrorist,” she said. “I understand the concern. It's all about the safety of everyone, the American people, even us here. But some people, they just want to be here with their families."

Jasmine Kayal plans to go to college and eventually become a doctor like her father.

She said she does not know when she will be able to see him again.

It's not clear how many visa requests such as Kayal's have been denied. The government has not released any numbers.

Dr. Kayal plans to go to a U.S. Consulate in Iraq next week to ask for permission again, his family said.