The Syrian refugee crisis has been spiraling out of control since it began, and senior Leen Abochale’s grandparents have experienced it firsthand. Her grandparents live in Syria and still frequently visit the United States and the remains of their home in Aleppo, Syria.

“My grandparents aren’t refugees; when the crisis began during 2012 and 2013, my parents worked quickly to get my grandparents a green card,” Abochale said. “They go back and forth living with my parents and me and their home in Aleppo, to make sure their house is still in good condition.”

Safety is an issue when it comes to traveling back and forth from Syria, and the new President has already made it harder to get into the United States.  When President Trump put a travel ban on Syria, Abochale’s grandparents were on their way to America.

“They were on the plane to come back to America when the travel ban was created,” Abochale said. “My whole family was terrified that they were going to be stuck in Syria, but since they were already on the plane, they were allowed to fly back to the United States.”

Abochale’s grandparents have seen the destruction of their home country and the mass genocide of Syrian lives. Abochale’s grandparents are lucky enough be safe in the United States but many Syrians are still in need of help.