CLAYTON, Ohio — An Ohio family will get to celebrate Christmas together this year after a decades-long battle with immigration. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Hamdi family has been living and working in Ohio for the last 25 years, but the threat of deportation separated their family 

  • After a long battle in court, the Moroccon family said they now have the opportunity to stay in the U.S without worry and the parents are on track to get a green card

  • The family says they are still fighting for a loved one after she was deported

This Christmas holds special meaning for the Hamdi family.

For the first time, the Moroccan family is in Clayton, a Dayton suburb, celebrating their traditions and flavor, without worrying that it would be their last.

“You don’t have to wonder or worry, or look over, you go to work and you wonder who’s gonna take your mom or your dad," said Sara Hamdi. 

Sara, her sisters, Wafaa and Tina, and brother, Samie Hamdi, said when they were younger, their family was forced to be apart.

Their dad, Youssef Hamdi, was on the list to get deported in 2003. And then, in 2007, immigration officials detained their mom, Fatiha Elgharib, for five months with plans to deport her too.

She says, this year, the threat of getting deported was still there.

“Three times they try to send me back, with my luggage, and everything,” said Fatiha Elgharib, who has four children.

Immigration officials told them they stayed in the U.S. beyond the limit on their visas.

They’ve been in Ohio since 1995, so the family fought in court to stay longer and won.

“I’m really happy, you know, to get up every morning and say I’m still here, thank god, and still with my family,” said Elgharib.

With their names now off the deportation list, they have the opportunity to become permanent U.S. residents. 

And they say they've applied for and are in the process of getting their green cards to stay. 

The family said there’s still one missing piece.

“We have a sister in between us,” said Sara Hamdi.

Their sister, Tina Hamdi, was arrested on unrelated charges and deported. 

It’s the reason they say their fight is not over, but this Christmas they’re celebrating how far they’ve come.

“I fight for my kids to stay with them and thank God it’s happened, it’s happened,” said Elgharib.

Dec. 27 Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated that Tina Hamdi was currently serving time in Morocco. The story has been updated to reflect that Hamdi has never served time in Morocco.

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