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American Morning
Hoop Dreams
Aired February 17, 2003 - 07:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: He was hailed as a hero for preventing an airline disaster, but now he might be forced to leave the U.S. Kwame James was one of the airlines passengers who helped to subdue the shoe bomber, Richard Reid, on a flight from Paris to Miami in December of 2001.
James, a Canadian citizen, is a basketball player, who dreams of someday playing in the NBA. He is living in the U.S. under visitor status and could soon be deported.
Kwame James joins us from Virginia.
Good to see you again -- welcome.
KWAME JAMES, HELPED TO SUBDUE SHOE BOMBER ON PLANE: Good morning.
ZAHN: We should make it clear you not only helped to subdue Richard Reid, at one point, one of the pilots asked you to stand guard over him for the remainder of the flight. Why is it that there is talk of deporting you now?
JAMES: I mean, it's not so much of being deported. It's more of an issue of being allowed to work. You know, I haven't been able to get a work permit to work in the States, so therefore, it kind of leaves me in a bind and not being able to work, and I need some financial support. So, you know, my only choice would be to leave.
ZAHN: Well, at the point of this Richard Reid flight, you had received commendations and honors from the U.S. government, and there was talk from the INS that you'd be given a work permit. What changed?
JAMES: The trial was scheduled for last November, and upon him pleading guilty, you know, there was no need to give me a work permit anymore. And that's exactly what happened. They were going to, he pled guilty, and then they decided not to give it to me.
ZAHN: So, the only way you would have gotten the work permit is if you had testified in that case?
JAMES: Yes, yes.
ZAHN: So, what's going to happen to you now?
JAMES: I'm just hoping that, you know, someone can change the situation really. There's just a lot of red tape and stuff that I really don't understand, but I'm hoping that someone is just going to, you know, approach from the INS or within the INS and change something, because all I'm asking is for a work permit.
ZAHN: Did anybody within the INS ever tell you because of your heroism that they might bend the rules at any point of the process?
JAMES: No one has ever said that, but you know, no one has ever said also we can help. You know, it's quite a unique situation. As an athlete, there's actually no visa for an athlete in training. You know, I would have to go out and use my college degree and get a professional job, and I can't actually stay in shape for my basketball goals.
ZAHN: Are you angry about what's happening to you now?
JAMES: It does kind of feel like a slap in the face. You know, I've been through a lot. All through this, I've been, you know, really humble and understanding of everything, and you know, I haven't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) anything, and all I'm asking for is just a work permit to be allowed to work.
ZAHN: And how do you view what it is you accomplished on that flight, where you successfully subdued Richard Reid? And then, what do you think would have happened if you hadn't?
JAMES: Well, obviously, you know, the magnitude of the story has set in, and you know, I feel very honored and proud at the same time and lucky just to be here to tell you and the world a story. And you know, I just feel like everybody in the world was a bit touched by the story that -- you know, and it's positive we all survived. And I mean, it's a day I will forget -- or I'd rather forget if I could, but it happened, and you know, I'm going to make the best of a situation as far as being positive to other people.
ZAHN: So finally, you really do believe had you not been there that that plane would have been blown up?
JAMES: Yes, definitely. I mean, obviously, you know, the flight attendants played a huge role in that, and along with the two or three other passengers that helped out. And you know, it was just -- it was a team effort. And yes, if she hadn't acted and if we hadn't acted, I probably wouldn't be here to tell you this story.
ZAHN: And if Richard Reid hadn't pled guilty, you might have had to testify in that case, and you wouldn't even have to be worried about all of this.
Well, we're going to stay on top of this with the INS and track your actions as the weeks go on.
JAMES: Yes, please. I definitely need the help and support.
ZAHN: Kwame James, thank you very much for sharing your story with us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired February 17, 2003 - 07:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: He was hailed as a hero for preventing an airline disaster, but now he might be forced to leave the U.S. Kwame James was one of the airlines passengers who helped to subdue the shoe bomber, Richard Reid, on a flight from Paris to Miami in December of 2001.
James, a Canadian citizen, is a basketball player, who dreams of someday playing in the NBA. He is living in the U.S. under visitor status and could soon be deported.
Kwame James joins us from Virginia.
Good to see you again -- welcome.
KWAME JAMES, HELPED TO SUBDUE SHOE BOMBER ON PLANE: Good morning.
ZAHN: We should make it clear you not only helped to subdue Richard Reid, at one point, one of the pilots asked you to stand guard over him for the remainder of the flight. Why is it that there is talk of deporting you now?
JAMES: I mean, it's not so much of being deported. It's more of an issue of being allowed to work. You know, I haven't been able to get a work permit to work in the States, so therefore, it kind of leaves me in a bind and not being able to work, and I need some financial support. So, you know, my only choice would be to leave.
ZAHN: Well, at the point of this Richard Reid flight, you had received commendations and honors from the U.S. government, and there was talk from the INS that you'd be given a work permit. What changed?
JAMES: The trial was scheduled for last November, and upon him pleading guilty, you know, there was no need to give me a work permit anymore. And that's exactly what happened. They were going to, he pled guilty, and then they decided not to give it to me.
ZAHN: So, the only way you would have gotten the work permit is if you had testified in that case?
JAMES: Yes, yes.
ZAHN: So, what's going to happen to you now?
JAMES: I'm just hoping that, you know, someone can change the situation really. There's just a lot of red tape and stuff that I really don't understand, but I'm hoping that someone is just going to, you know, approach from the INS or within the INS and change something, because all I'm asking is for a work permit.
ZAHN: Did anybody within the INS ever tell you because of your heroism that they might bend the rules at any point of the process?
JAMES: No one has ever said that, but you know, no one has ever said also we can help. You know, it's quite a unique situation. As an athlete, there's actually no visa for an athlete in training. You know, I would have to go out and use my college degree and get a professional job, and I can't actually stay in shape for my basketball goals.
ZAHN: Are you angry about what's happening to you now?
JAMES: It does kind of feel like a slap in the face. You know, I've been through a lot. All through this, I've been, you know, really humble and understanding of everything, and you know, I haven't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) anything, and all I'm asking for is just a work permit to be allowed to work.
ZAHN: And how do you view what it is you accomplished on that flight, where you successfully subdued Richard Reid? And then, what do you think would have happened if you hadn't?
JAMES: Well, obviously, you know, the magnitude of the story has set in, and you know, I feel very honored and proud at the same time and lucky just to be here to tell you and the world a story. And you know, I just feel like everybody in the world was a bit touched by the story that -- you know, and it's positive we all survived. And I mean, it's a day I will forget -- or I'd rather forget if I could, but it happened, and you know, I'm going to make the best of a situation as far as being positive to other people.
ZAHN: So finally, you really do believe had you not been there that that plane would have been blown up?
JAMES: Yes, definitely. I mean, obviously, you know, the flight attendants played a huge role in that, and along with the two or three other passengers that helped out. And you know, it was just -- it was a team effort. And yes, if she hadn't acted and if we hadn't acted, I probably wouldn't be here to tell you this story.
ZAHN: And if Richard Reid hadn't pled guilty, you might have had to testify in that case, and you wouldn't even have to be worried about all of this.
Well, we're going to stay on top of this with the INS and track your actions as the weeks go on.
JAMES: Yes, please. I definitely need the help and support.
ZAHN: Kwame James, thank you very much for sharing your story with us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
