News & Stories

Some moments in life taste sweeter when shared with others–births, graduations, weddings. Milestones like these are meant for community celebration. The legal wins we honored at Together Rising: Celebrating Legal Wins are no different. On October 19, 2024, clients, staff, and supporters gathered to celebrate over 20 newcomers who reached life-changing milestones–securing asylum, reuniting with […]

Finding a job is challenging for anyone, but especially for newcomers with disabilities like Abeba*. A blind client from Eritrea, Abeba once led an organization advocating for women with disabilities. Now in the U.S., her immigration status makes her ineligible for mainstream employment services, further complicating her transition into the workforce. After searching online for […]

“Coming to the U.S. to reunite with my dad after he was granted asylum was a dream come true for me. I had high hopes for a better life. But the realities on the ground were different from what I anticipated. Adjusting to the new culture and working towards a better life was very hard. […]

On May 13, 2024, Awel received a call he would never forget. After guiding countless clients through the intricate maze of the U.S. immigration system, his own immigration attorney reached out with a pivotal update–the long-awaited decision on his status finally arrived. “Awel, I have incredible news. Your legal status has been approved.”  Relief and […]

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a big group of happy people.” I turned to greet the smiling guest who patted my shoulder as she said this. I had to agree. It was May 11, 2024, and the second annual Taste of AsylumWorks was underway. The room—a window-laden space enveloped by trees—was […]

Back home in West Africa, Leticia* worked with children and families as a government social worker. When Leticia’s work endangered her life, she fled to the U.S. with her two-year-old son. Leticia worked at a fast food restaurant to pay her bills and provide for her child, but her dream to work with children and […]

Hamza*, an asylum seeker from North Africa, worked as a “quality inspector,” in which he was responsible for unpacking boxes, repackaging them, and shipping them elsewhere. After discussing the job with him, our Director of Employment Services helped him understand it was a scam and explained the possible implications, including possible legal challenges due to […]