Russian Architect's Harrowing Journey to the US

Mikhail, a Russian architect who wanted to see his country become more democratic and free, spent much of his youth supporting politicians who opposed Putin's autocratic regime. To his horror, he watched as Russia launched an attack against its neighbor in February of this year, plunging the entire region into violence and chaos. Mikhail, together with his wife and young son, decided to flee as quickly as possible to protect his family, before he was forced to fight in a war that he did not believe in.

It took all of their life savings to leave, as they found themselves faced with closed border after closed border. The family was able to make their way to Turkey, where they found themselves unable to seek asylum, then to Mexico, where they presented themselves at the U.S. border, only to be turned away without their asylum claims being heard, due to ongoing restrictions under Title 42. Left with only dangerous choices, the family made the decision to swim across the Rio Grande River, before finally being able to apply for asylum due to their physical presence inside the U.S.

The IRC was connected to Mikhail through word-of-mouth, as he received assistance from various churches once he entered the US. We provided support with referrals to appropriate asylum agencies in Los Angeles, as well as our network of supporters to help Mikhail find work as an architect. Even when our ability to provide direct legal assistance is limited, the IRC hopes to provide as much holistic care as possible, connecting immigrants to resources that they need to be able to thrive in their new homes.