Happy update: Kevin Yourdkhani's family can stay in Canada!

This is such a tremendous relief! Kevin Yourdkhani & his family are allowed to remain in Canada! Last February, a 9 year-old Canadian boy was imprisoned with his Iranian parents in a Texas 'immigration' prison. Their story was followed with tremendous anxiety and interest in many Canadian blogs, including this one (AnnaMarie and Liberal Catnip were particular relentless, bless them!!).

The Yourdkhanis were held in what could only be described as inhumane conditions for 45 days, before receiving a temporary (6 month) permit from the Canadian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Diane Finley. Knowing the permit expired on Sept 20, 2007, I anxiously setup a Google Alert for 'Yourdkhani'...and waited.

Well: October 2nd rolled around and, Boy! Did my Inbox a-jingle with the 'alert' I've been waiting for...the Yourdkhanis have received "an approval in principle" for permanent residence (Unnati Gandhi, G&M):

"Approval in principle is the difficult step to meet and that normally takes two or three years," Andrew Brouwer [their lawyer] said. "The remaining step is to do the security, criminality and medical screening ... and I don't anticipate any problems with that."

Majid Yourdkhani and Masomeh Alibegi could become permanent residents as early as next month. "I'm very happy now because my mom and my dad is happy," Kevin said yesterday.

The decision marks a new beginning for the family who, just months ago, had found themselves in international limbo.

Now? Kevin is back in school, having missed 2 years. His dad and mom can now apply for an "open work permit." (Mr. Yourdkhani has been working as a temp in a pizza place since arriving in Canada)

There is a sad strain to Kevin's return to Canada after such a prolonged absence. He couldn't stay at his old school, due to the stigma of jail, but he appears to be quite happy in his new "digs:"

He says he is happy at his new school and likes his teacher.

"It's way better. Nobody knows about ... anything that happened. I can relax a little bit. I have got some new friends."

Boy, does that do my heart good. Congratulations, Kevin & family!

P.S. AnnaMarie is very happy, too. :)