Mass. Families Stuck in Middle East Amid Iran War

Sen. Markey calls on Trump administration to evacuate Americans from the region

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Massachusetts families are trapped in the Middle East as the war in Iran rages on, with no clear way to get home. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, is urging the Trump administration to facilitate the return of every American who wants to leave the region, but the State Department has not provided an evacuation plan.

Why it matters

The inability to evacuate American citizens from the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict in Iran raises concerns about the government's preparedness and response to such geopolitical crises. The plight of these Massachusetts families highlights the need for better emergency planning and coordination to ensure the safe return of U.S. citizens caught in the crosshairs of international conflicts.

The details

Stacey Schuhwerk, a mother from Hingham, Massachusetts, has been sheltering in a Doha, Qatar hotel since Saturday, hearing missiles outside her window. She and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to leave, as airspace is shut down and flights are canceled or delayed. U.S. embassies and consulates in the region have suspended services, unable to help evacuate citizens.

  • Schuhwerk has been sheltering in a Doha hotel since Saturday.
  • Schuhwerk registered with the State Department days ago, but has received no assistance.

The players

Sen. Ed Markey

A Democratic senator from Massachusetts who is calling on the Trump administration to facilitate the return of every American who wants to leave the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Stacey Schuhwerk

A mother from Hingham, Massachusetts, who is currently sheltering in a Doha, Qatar hotel amid the war in Iran, with no clear way to return home.

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What they’re saying

“We hear the missiles outside. We can see them.”

— Stacey Schuhwerk, Hingham, Massachusetts resident (nbcboston.com)

“Airspace is shut down. There's no planes. There's no way to leave.”

— Stacey Schuhwerk, Hingham, Massachusetts resident (nbcboston.com)

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families.”

— Sen. Ed Markey (nbcboston.com)

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out.”

— Sen. Ed Markey (nbcboston.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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