कोशिश गोल्ड - मुक्त

One refugee’s 8-year struggle to reunite with her family in the U.S.

Los Angeles Times

|

August 15, 2025

The Congolese woman's search for safety sent her on a terrifying trek of nearly 2,300 miles through southern Africa on foot when she was just 15.

- BY REBECCA BOONE

One refugee’s 8-year struggle to reunite with her family in the U.S.

A CONGOLESE refugee who is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Trump administration at her Idaho home.

Reuniting with her family has been a more difficult journey. For eight years, she clung to hope through delays and setbacks as she navigated a U.S. program that reconnects refugees with family members already in the country, and her dream of seeing them again seemed close to becoming a reality.

But President Trump signed an executive order halting the refugee program just hours after he took office on Jan. 20, leaving her and thousands of other refugees stranded.

"It was horrible. I would never wish for anyone to go through that, ever. When I think about it, I just ..." she said, pausing to take a long breath. "Honestly, I had given up. I told my mom maybe it was just not meant for us to see each other again."

During a brief block on the order, the woman made it into the U.S., one of only about 70 refugees to arrive in the country since Trump took office. She asked that her name not be used because she fears retaliation.

"It's been a really devastating roller coaster for those families, to be stuck in this limbo of not knowing whether their hope of being resettled in the United States will ever come true," said Melissa Keaney, an attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project.

The woman was an infant when her mother fled the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war in 1997, seeking shelter at Tanzania's Nyarugusu refugee camp. When the camp grew too dangerous, she fled for South Africa. She built a modest life there, always hoping she would rejoin her family, even after they were resettled in the U.S. For a time, that seemed likely, thanks to the "follow-to-join" program.

The refugee program had bipartisan support for decades, allowing people displaced by war, natural disaster or persecution to legally migrate to the U.S. and providing a pathway to citizenship.

Los Angeles Times से और कहानियाँ

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Israel’s president condemns West Bank attacks

‘Shocking’ settler violence targeting Palestinians must end, Isaac Herzog says.

time to read

4 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Climate gives Newsom a world stage

The potential presidential contender grabs global spotlight as he positions California as a stand-in for U.S. at Brazil summit

time to read

6 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

U.S. stocks drift around records as chipmaker AMD surges 9%

Stocks drifted around their records in a mixed day of trading on Wednesday.

time to read

1 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

More roads led to Rome than was previously thought

As the saying went, all roads once led to Rome — and those roads stretched 50% longer than previously known, according to a new digital atlas published Thursday.

time to read

2 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

The Alchemist has been living at a higher speed

The hip-hop producer opens up about his evolution ahead of Camp Flog Gnaw set.

time to read

5 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

States miss deadline in talks on Colorado River

Negotiators on water sharing note progress, but lawmaker criticizes 'upstream neighbors'

time to read

3 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Edison must be held accountable

Re \"Edison blackouts increase sharply,\" Nov. 10

time to read

1 min

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Can this bar bring back DTLA's nightlife?

[Bar Franca, from E1] high hopes, but they also need a little bit of help,\" Alvarez said. \"We're doing our best to have people back on the streets, from all corners and all sensibilities, coming and being like, 'I want to hang out in downtown.' But how do we take care of it? How do we get there?

time to read

5 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Holiday shoppers expect 14% less cheer

Shoppers in Los Angeles are turning to more affordable brands, seeking deals and making their own presents to save money this holiday season, as many tighten their purse strings in anticipation of a weak economy.

time to read

2 mins

November 13, 2025

Los Angeles Times

Easy prey for ID thieves: Foreign scholars

L.A. ring targets those who moved on after U.S. stints, expert says

time to read

5 mins

November 13, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size