As we arrived to the place where he said the refugees were, I could see the approaching fields scattered with makeshift tents. “That way is Syria” he said as he gestured toward the open fields, eluding to the Turkish ground we stood on eventually turning into the land they fled from. Everywhere there was a mother. Most had a small child in their arms or at their feet. How did they have the courage and strength to run from the bombs, through the cities and the snipers and the rebels and Assad’s army and ISIS to this hopeless barren potato field.
I felt guilty standing with them; I knew we would be leaving in a few hours. Entering and exiting people’s pain is so uncomfortable – by far the worst feeling about crisis work or international development. How long would they wait before trying to move on or move back? Sadness hung in the air, thick like a hot day where you can’t escape the heat, but they chased it away the best they could with Arab hospitality, kindness, and tea. I hated that in the end, I knew that the food packs we brought were nice and useful for a few days, but what they really needed was someone to stop the war that chased them from their homes.
I feel really helpless when I look at the big picture, so I try to focus on the small picture in front of me. I wonder where they are now.
The Potato Field
My First Asylum Case: An Attorney's Perspective on Asylum in the United States
I took my first asylum case in 2016, when our national dialog on immigration took a decidedly negative turn. As a corporate attorney, I had no experience in immigration law, but my license allowed me to represent individuals fleeing severe persecution and I signed with a local non-profit to offer my help. My first asylum client was a young mother and her two small daughters. I could see myself in Saba.
Their Story is Our Story Applauds the Signing of Virginia House Bill 995 and Continues Efforts to Open Doors for Foreign-trained Medical Professionals in Other States
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), a non-profit organization that collects and shares the experiences of refugees to deepen understanding and influence action, applauds the signing of Virginia House Bill 995 into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, after its unanimous passage through the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. It will create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors who have immigrated to the state, including those whose careers were interrupted by forcible displacement, to fill workforce gaps in medically underserved communities.
Idaho One Refugee Conference
Last fall I was able to attend the 1Refugee Conference in Idaho. The event was well organized and everyone who approached our table was interested in what we did and wanted to know how to get involved. There were at least 100 students majoring in a variety of things who attended the event and we had 20 students give us their contact information. Most were interested in our internship programs.