A Tampa mom is back in the nation’s capital this week, continuing her fight to bring her young son home from Lebanon.
Rachelle Smith tells News Channel 8 she returned to Washington on Monday. She’s meeting with the Lebanese ambassador and attending a subcommittee meeting on international child abduction.
Smith has been trying for months now to reunite with her 4-year-old son Dexter. Back in August, the boy’s father took him to Lebanon against a judge’s order.
The father, Ali Salamey, has sent emails to WFLA claiming Smith is lying and saying he’s trying to ensure his son’s safety.
Though he has sent videos showing Dexter is safe and happy, Smith is concerned about her son’s wellbeing in a country where he has no family and does not speak the native language.
While the United States considers him a fugitive, Lebanon does not. The country also does not recognize extradition policies.
Smith previously visited Washington back in September and met with Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson to try and get their help.
