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Highlighting Immigrant Stories in Austin, Minnesota
Posted on Nov 07 2019
More than 10% of Austin, Minnesota residents are immigrants. Recently, we talked to three ILCM clients in Austin about their experiences of immigration and the United States.
Layiet is a student at Riverland Community College. Her family is from Gambela, Ethiopia, though she was born in South Sudan. She and her family came to the United States as refugees when she was around five years old, and she grew up with a good understanding of both American and African cultures.
At home, Layiet speaks her native language and is immersed in Ethiopian culture. But “[w]hen I leave my house,” she says “it’s like I’m a different person than I am at home.” Layiet explains, “everything American culture, I have to be immersed in it.”
Once she has finishes her studies, Layiet hopes to go back to Ethiopia. “I went to America for opportunity, to learn how to do things and then take [those skills] back home,” she said. “America doesn’t need me because it’s already a first world country. If I don’t go back and help, who will?”
“The life I’m living right now,” Layiet says, “I’m living for me and my mom because she didn’t have this opportunity. I’m blessed to be in this position because most people don’t get this opportunity and I want to use it to help others.”
Originally from Burma (Myanmar), Thatcher spent time in a refugee camp in Thailand before coming to the United States. Speaking of her time as a refugee, Thatcher says she didn’t have freedom or a place to call home. While in the camp, she applied several times to go to Finland, where her sister lived, but it never worked out. “I guess God wanted to bring me here,” she said.
She heard about the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) from her husband. Thatcher had known her now-husband in the refugee camp, though they didn’t talk to each other. “He was my crush,” she said with a laugh.
When Thatcher wished to become a citizen, her husband introduced her to ILCM. ILCM Staff Attorney Sara Karki remembers having to inform an eager Thatcher that she had to live in the United States for a few more years to be eligible for citizenship. Once that time had elapsed, Thatcher returned with her husband and child, and Sara assisted the family to become citizens.
“After I became a U.S. citizen, I felt so great,” Thatcher said, “I’m so happy it’s my home and my country!” She registered to vote at her naturalization ceremony and is excited to vote in the future. She is also looking forward to being able to travel abroad now that she is a citizen. “I am more than blessed to be an American citizen,” she said. “I know I am free and I am in a place where everybody is being treated fairly with equal rights. I thank God for not just putting me in a safe place, but for putting me in a place where I can call home.”
Ninn came to the United States after living in a refugee camp in Thailand. “We didn’t have a future there,” Ninn said of the camp. “[We could only] do work today, and spend money today—we were poor, and had no opportunity, nothing to dream for.” Coming to the United States gave Ninn “a new perspective” on life.
Since arriving in the United States six years ago, Ninn has graduated from Riverland Community College. She now works as a success coach for Austin Public Schools. “I’m doing the job that I love,” she said. “It’s just the most amazing thing when you’re doing the thing you love and helping people.”
Ninn also recently became a citizen, which she considers the best moment of her life. She said that at her naturalization ceremony, “[e]veryone had a big smile on their face—including me!” In the future, Ninn is interested in being a nurse or a teacher. “I want to do a job that makes me happy and also lets me help others, especially anyone who is in need,” she said.