CRIS 30th Anniversary Story | Elmi

In his home country of Somalia, Elmi Ware worked as a journalist. His work included reporting for government television. It was a job he loved—one rooted in informing the public and documenting life in his country. But in 2007, as the political climate grew more volatile and violent, members of the media became targets. Opposition groups began hunting journalists. Elmi received death threats. His oldest son was just five days old when Elmi made the impossible decision to flee the country.

He escaped to Kenya, where he lived in exile for years. It was there that his wife and four children would eventually join him—but their lives remained in limbo. Kenya offered no permanent solution, and returning to Somalia was not an option.

In 2016, nearly a decade after fleeing his home country, Elmi was resettled in Columbus, Ohio. He came alone.

Separated from his family by oceans, paperwork, and policy, Elmi started over in a new country. Soon after being resettled, he met with Angie who helped him apply for reunification with his family. It would be another seven years before that dream became reality.

During that time, Elmi moved to Indianapolis for work. He also did what he could to stay connected to his family. He visited them three times in Kenya—in 2019, 2022, and 2023—and worked long hours driving for a transportation company and later as an Uber driver. He also never stopped being a journalist at heart. In 2020, he started a YouTube channel for Somali audiences in the U.S., breaking down complex topics like how Congress works or what’s happening in the White House. He explains, “It’s educational for the community, a way for the Somali community here to be in tune with what’s happening in the country.”

Elmi became a U.S. citizen in 2021, but even that milestone felt bittersweet without his family beside him.

Finally, in the fall of 2024, after nearly nine years of separation, his wife and children arrived in the U.S. The children—now 17, 15, 11, and 9—had attended private school in Kenya and arrived speaking English. They’ve adjusted quickly to American life and are already earning good grades.

When asked if the U.S. feels like home, Elmi says yes without hesitation. “There are a lot of opportunities here,” he says. “Education for kids, very good jobs—they can build their futures here.”

His journey to reunite with his family took nearly a decade, but today, Elmi’s home finally feels whole. His next dream? Helping his extended family still overseas—and continuing to give back through information and education. He also dreams of a safer future for his home country, but for now, the United States is where he and his family have found home.