A message from RefugeeOne* on the Ramirez Family!
Thank you, ICSJ Parish, for your generous and incredibly timely gift to RefugeeOne. We’re so grateful your parish has opted to co-sponsor the Ramirez family. As you know, the new administration has temporarily suspended the resettlement program, however this does not prohibit us from continuing to serve clients to the best of our abilities as they rebuild their lives in Chicago. We’ll ensure that the Ramirez family has access to all of our programs, such as housing, resume and job support, Youth services, mental health therapy, and much more.
This was an especially moving arrival at O’Hare, as a mother and her three children were reunited with their husband and dad. The family—originally from Nicaragua—had been separated for two years. The father came to the U.S. in 2022 to find refuge and work to provide more opportunities for his family. In the meantime, the mother and children applied for refugee status and were eventually sent to Chicago as well. As you can imagine, it was an emotional reunion! Despite their new surroundings and apartment, the kids were simply focused on making up lost time with their dad.
Since his arrival, the father has established his own work at a local factory, secured an apartment in the city, and applied for asylum. The family moved into his place, and RefugeeOne provided our usual furnishings, household essentials, and two weeks’ worth of groceries to the family. The family has already received their Link card, a card that allows them to receive cash assistance and SNAP benefits.
Our Youth team enrolled the three boys (age 9, 14, and 16) into local schools. The mother and children walked to Nixon Elementary where they met with a teacher and received a tour. Then they walked to Kelvyn Park High School where they met with administrators who answered the family’s questions about the school. The boys had their first day of school last week, and according to their case manager it went well!
The mom was also enrolled in our Cultural Orientation classes, which take place every Friday. “CO” is an 8-week long program that focuses on topics like rights as a US resident, cultural norms in the US, carrying personal identification, US laws, money management, creating a budget, steps to getting a job, the importance of paying taxes, and so much more.
Finally, we want to share that the mother and her three sons have permanent status in the U.S., granted through their refugee status. We know it’s a difficult and concerning time for all newcomers, so we have begun offering Know Your Rights trainings for all clients so that they’re prepared should they interact with ICE officers.
Thank you again for all the continued support!
*Please note that the financial co-sponsorship of the Ramirez Family through RefugeeOne is a different effort than the Welcome to America Pack recently collected by the parish to support our partners at Exodus World Service.