New report finds immigrants play vital role in Ohio economy

State and national philanthropy groups release data on Ohio’s immigrants; call for further resources Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), in partnership with a group of philanthropy organizations, has released a new report, Our Pathway to a Brighter Future: Ohio’s New Americans, revealing that immigrants play a crucial role in Ohio’s economy and that […]

Preparing Your Family for Immigration Enforcement

Whether you are a U.S. citizen, come from a mixed status family, or have immigrant friends, neighbors or coworkers, now is the time for us to protect one another. There are small things you can do to help keep families together—Know Your Rights! And make sure everyone in our community know their rights too. >> Preparing […]

Sanctuary Congregatrions and Harboring FAQ

Traditionally, “sanctuary” is a term that has been used to describe the protection of individuals in a place of worship. With respect to immigrants, different faith groups may use this term in different ways, but sanctuary is generally considered to involve providing comfort and assistance to immigrants and their family members at risk of apprehension […]

Sylvia’s Story

After coming to the United States to live with family, Sylvia fell in love and married a U.S. citizen. Soon, her husband became physically and emotionally abusive. He threatened to have Sylvia deported if she reported his attacks. Sylvia’s husband also had control over her ability to obtain a green card. For more than nine […]

Caleb’s Story

Arriving in the United States, Caleb experienced both safety and sadness. He was now far away from the rebels in his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who had beaten and starved him. However, Caleb had to leave his wife and five children behind when fleeing for his life. Caleb needs ongoing medical […]

Ana’s Story

Ana’s story began in Guatemala, where she was born. Her father died when she was four, and Ana spent the next several years caring for her sick mother. When her mother died, Ana was left in the care of her godmother, who brought her to the United States. Since the two were not related, U.S. […]

Vivienne’s Story

Vivienne’s traffickers promised her a better-paying job and the chance to go to school in America. What they gave her when she arrived from Malawi was a brutal life of domestic servitude. For more than two years, Vivienne endured physical, sexual and psychological abuse. Attorneys from ABLE became part of Vivienne’s rescue team. They helped […]

Jessica’s Story

Losing a parent is difficult at any age, but it can be even harder when you are not a U.S. citizen. Jessica, her parents, and her two brothers moved to the U.S. when she was five years old. After her father left the family and was deported, Jessica’s mother became ill and died unexpectedly. Alone […]

Pascal’s Story

Pascal is a 66-year-old man who originally came to the United States as a refugee from Burundi. Because of a learning disability made worse by living through Burundi’s ethnic warfare, Pascal was unable to learn to read or write in English. As a refugee and then a Lawful Permanent Resident, Pascal relied on public benefits, […]

Rosa’s Story

Born in Mexico, Rosa entered the United States as a young child, arriving in Toledo where she graduated from high school. She is now 24-years-old and was recently detained by the U.S. Border Patrol at a gas station in Toledo. She was scheduled for removal from the U.S. because she could not prove she was […]