"My dad sacrificed so much to ensure we would be safe, and now we are fighting to make sure he can be, too. What motivates us are the memories of when things were better. Our dad has always been proud to have four daughters and loved to spoil us back in Burma. On my birthday, I could never decide what flavor cake I wanted so one year he got me all of them. Unfortunately, our separation has denied us the chance to make those kinds of memories in our new home. It’s days like [Father's Day] that we feel the separation the most."
Rabi has been separated from his wife and three sons for 7 years
“It fills me with so much dread that I am away from my wife and my children. It’s a lonely life...Often, I will find my mind wandering. I will be at work, and my heart and mind will be somewhere else [with my family]. I will only turn back when someone speaks to me. People always ask, ‘Where is your mind at?'"
Raj has been separated from his wife and two sons for 9 years
"At night, I lie awake talking on the phone with my wife. She tells me about our sons, now [twelve] and [eight]. They work hard studying English in preparation to join me in the United States. But lately, they have become depressed. The stress of our separation and the constant threats to their safety have taken a toll, and I feel powerless to bring my family to safety. I love Texas and my life in this country...Yet I know my life here will remain incomplete without my family. I can’t wait to meet my youngest son in person, to be able to play with him and his brother and show them how much they mean to me. Mostly, I want them to experience the same freedom I now have."
Afkab was separated from his wife and sons for 6 years
Afkab was set to be reunited with his wife and son in January 2017, until the Muslim ban halted travel and refugee admissions from Somalia. He fought tirelessly to bring his family to safety in the United States, participating in two lawsuits to expedite the reunification of his family and hundreds like his. Last summer, Afkab and his wife and two sons were reunited in Ohio. "Finally surrounded by his family, Hussein beamed as he held [his youngest son] Zain. 'I'm feeling so excited.'"
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