Iraqi refugees in Valley achieve American dream

June is National Homeownership Month and a US Valley family got the keys to their first home exactly six years after they escaped violence in Iraq. The Khader family, of Rockingham County, accepted a ceremonial key to their first home. 

June 10th marked six years since they moved to America as Iraqi refugees. In Iraq, Al-Qaida members told Alias Khader they would kill him if he didn't leave. Khader said this was because he's not a Muslim.

Nearly a decade later, thanks to help from a low-interest home loan through the United States Department of Agriculture, they were able to achieve an American dream. They now have a home to call their own. 

"We are very, very excited. We are very happy. This is like big dreams come true, and I don't know how to say but this like the best thing we got in the United States, after the kids," said Khader.