CRIS 30th Anniversary Story | Mohamed B

When Mohamed was forced to leave his native country of Ethiopia to seek safety in Kenya, he made the journey alone. Life in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, was difficult—there was little work, opportunity for growth, and no clear path forward to a prosperous future. But while in Kenya, Mohamed met the woman who would become his wife, and they began building a life together. They welcomed their first daughter in 2015. Just three months later, Mohamed was approved for resettlement in the United States. Because his wife and daughter were not on the same refugee resettlement case as Mohamed, he had to make that journey to the U.S. alone, too. 

Soon after Mohamed was resettled in Columbus, CRIS Executive Director Angie Plummer helped him apply to bring his wife and infant daughter to join him. Once the administration changed, the family’s reunification process faced tremendous challenges. Mohamed worked hard to build a life here in Columbus while maintaining close contact with his family overseas and consistent communication with Angie for any possible updates on their status.

In 2019, Mohamed was able to reunite briefly with his wife and young daughter in Uganda for a short visit. After Mohamed returned to continue his work in Columbus, he and his wife found out they were expecting their second child. 

After nearly eight long years of waiting and separation, Mohamed joyfully welcomed his wife and two daughters at the Columbus airport in 2022. Since then, their family has grown—they now have three children–and they have taken steps together to normalize a life here that was disrupted for so long. Mohamed works in transportation, while his wife stays home with the kids. He explains, “Everything is good for me, and for my kids. For school, for the future—I like that part.”