Activists, artists, and faith leaders gathered on February 25 in front of the Trump Tower in Chicago for the Refugee Remix Rally. The protest was organized by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network as a place to hear the “voices, stories and creative brilliance” of communities most at-risk under the Trump administration.

90 Days, 90 Voices attended the rally and captured the voices of some of those who attended. (90days90voices.com)

Voices from the Refugee Remix Rally

Igor harmonica

Igor's Introduction

Igor PTSD In US

Samir Amer played music on an oud during candlelight vigil in downtown Chicago on April 13. The vigil was held to show solidarity with Syrians who have been displaced or suffered because of the civil war in that country.

#WomenForSyria

Just 11 months apart in age, brothers Mufaddal and Abdulghany Hamadeh have shared almost everything in their lives — including their love of the two countries they call home.

Born in Syria, the brothers moved to the United States as infants. They spent the first six years of their lives here while their father studied to get his master’s and doctorate degrees.

When they returned home to Syria and began their own studies, they were in the same class from first grade through medical school. While they were happy to be home, the oppressive regime was always a dark cloud over their lives.

Mufaddal and Abdulghany eventually moved back to the U.S. in 1983 and 1985, respectively. They live in the Chicago area and are esteemed physicians who continue to maintain their connection to their other home. Mufaddal serves on the board of the Syrian American Medical Society, and both brothers and their children make medical missions back to Syria to help those caught in the civil war.

In a special 90 Days collaboration with StoryCorps, the 57-year-old brothers sat down for a conversation about their life in Syria and the U.S., which begins with Abdulghany asking Mufaddal about the happiest day of his life.

Hamadeh Brothers

Maria Salgado is a legal assistant at Centro Romero, an organization “that serves the refugee immigrant population on the northeast side of Chicago”. Salgado has been working with Temporary Protective Status related cases for years. She now talks about the program and the ramification of ending the program for immigrants from El Salvador.

Read the full story here: 90days90voices.com/american-dreams…on-8805ffa2c378

What are the options for Temporary Protective Status recipients? - American Dreams on Deportation

Chicago became a sanctuary city in 2012 and the status was reaffirmed in 2016. The program protects residents’ rights to access city services regardless of immigration status. Police officers cannot arrest someone solely based on immigration status.

Read the full story here: 90days90voices.com/american-dreams…on-8805ffa2c378

Chicago, Sanctuary City - American Dreams on Deportation

There are more than 4,000 TPS beneficiaries in Illinois, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Read the full story here: https://90days90voices.com/american-dreams-on-deportation-8805ffa2c378

Salvadoran TPS recipients are resilient - American Dreams on Deportation

There’s a big age range and varieties of job positions that immigrants with Temporary Protective Status hold.

Read the full story here: https://90days90voices.com/american-dreams-on-deportation-8805ffa2c378

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