Immigration

Jody Mashek with Zerom

Jody Mashek, who directs AFSC's immigration legal services work in Des Moines, greets Zerom and two of his daughters at the AFSC office. Zerom is a refugee from Eritrea.

An Eritrean refugee in Iowa is reunited with his family, with help from AFSC.

Jody Mashek can tell you all about the headaches, heartaches and frustrating delays of U.S. immigration law.

She can also show you the joy on a father’s face when he’s finally reunited with his family.

Jody directs the legal services component of AFSC’s Immigrants Voice Program in Des Moines. Each year the program assists several hundred immigrants and refugees from around the world.

Fredd Reyes

Fredd Reyes (right) and his wife Valentina Pavone Reyes-Sagastume.

For Fredd Reyes, the U.S. is home. He’s lived here since he was two years old and has no memory of his native Guatemala. He was a top student at East Davidson High before attending a local college.

Fredd’s English is better than his Spanish. He is a taxpayer with no criminal record. His younger brother is a U.S. citizen. There was no reason to suspect his past was unusual. Fredd’s friends did not know he was living in the country without documents until he was arrested, detained, and threatened with deportation.

New U.S. citizens

New U.S. citizens stand with their teacher, Paul-Andre Mondesir, AFSC’s Haitian community social advocate.

In November, just a week after the U.S. presidential election in which immigration issues played a prominent role, over 200 Miami-area residents gathered together to celebrate their new status as U.S. citizens.

Each student took the stage to shake the hand of their teacher, Paul-Andre Mondesir, AFSC’s Haitian community social advocate, who guided them through the complex path to becoming a citizen in the twice-weekly class he teaches in a tiny strip mall storefront.

"Families belong together" protest puppet

Image Available on Flickr

What do safe communities really look like? That question has been the focus of many in Denver, Colo., a city that has been home to many immigrants over the past 20 years. For AFSC, the answer can only be found by bringing together immigrants and non-immigrants to work together to ensure the fair treatment of all of the city's residents and work for equal human rights. Listen to the voices of community members working with AFSC to support the rights of immigrants in the Denver area.