September at IIA: Urgent Needs, Community Stories, and Immigration Updates

Your support allows the International Institute of Akron to meet urgent needs, strengthen families, and create a welcoming community for immigrants. This September, we celebrated milestones, honored extraordinary educators, and shared critical updates on immigration challenges affecting our neighbors.

URGENT NEED: Help Families Facing Food Insecurity

Starting November 1, 2025, a new federal policy will make refugees, asylees, and parolees who have been in the U.S. for less than five years ineligible for SNAP benefits. This change will drastically increase food insecurity for families already struggling to meet basic needs, impacting more than 1,300 individuals in Summit County alone.

The International Institute of Akron is calling on our community to come together and support those most affected.

To view our list of most-needed items, please visit our Donation Room page.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to support our efforts, please click the link below.

Make a Donation

Welcoming Week: Celebrating New Citizens

On September 12, we kicked off Welcoming Week in a big way by hosting a Naturalization Ceremony. Congratulations to our newest U.S. citizens! Your dedication and perseverance inspire us all.

We’d like to offer a special thank you to Acme for providing a gorgeous celebratory cake!

Storytelling with Professor Ira Sukrungruang

During Welcoming Week on September 17 and 18, we were thrilled to host award-winning author, poet, and storyteller Professor Ira Sukrungruang, in partnership with ArtsNow and the Arts & Culture Inclusion Council.

From his public talk at 647 Coffee to the intimate Writing Workshop at IIA, Professor Ira reminded us of the importance of reclaiming our narratives and exploring the places that shape us. Both events sparked thoughtful conversation and reflection, making them a highlight of our celebrations.

A huge thank you to Professor Ira and all participants for sharing in the power of storytelling.

Honoring an Outstanding Educator: Rikki Vesy

When morning ESL teacher Rikki Vesy announced she would be leaving, her students were moved to tears. On her last day, they surprised everyone with a self-organized potluck, bringing homemade dishes, including donuts, a new favorite in Akron.

Rikki’s dedication exemplifies excellence in both teaching and supporting students. We are excited to welcome Adam Laliberte as the new morning ESL teacher; confident he will continue her legacy of care and excellence.

Immigration News: Rising Challenges in Ohio

This month, our attorneys continue to see the growing pressures on immigrant communities:

  • Court delays are extending detention periods, leaving clients in limbo and creating undue stress.

  • Deportation practices raise serious legal concerns. A recent UN finding confirmed that U.S. deportation policies violate international agreements. For example, one client’s case has been extended twice, keeping him in detention, a pattern our attorneys see with some judges.

  • Expanded removals: Policies under the Trump Administration’s Third Country Removals continue to put migrants at risk.

Detention and Arrests in Ohio (2025):

  • Detention beds expanded from 120 to over 1,500 across six facilities, including CoreCivic-run Northeast Ohio Correctional Center and county jails in Geauga, Seneca, Butler, and Mahoning Counties.

  • Local Ohio jails now hold 40–60 immigrant detainees daily, many with no criminal record.

  • ICE arrests through July 28, 2025: 1,546 individuals

  • ICE deportations through July 28, 2025: 1,081 (compared to 561 in all of 2024)

  • June 2025 alone: 242 deportations—7x more than June 2024

  • Approximately 50% of June arrests involved individuals without criminal charges or convictions

Our attorneys continue to advocate for humane treatment, fair proceedings, and compliance with U.S. and international law.

Support IIA legal services here

How You Can Support IIA

Your contributions make a real difference in the lives of immigrants and refugees:

  • Donate: Every gift helps IIA keep its door open and staffed to support the growing needs of our immigrant community.

donate here

  • Fundraise for IIA: Organize a fundraiser with your workplace, faith group, or community.

fundraise for iia

  • Collect non-perishable food items and grocery gift cards: Help individuals losing SNAP benefits and facing food insecurity by donating non-perishable food items and grocery store gift cards. These will directly go to families in need.

Learn more here

Together, we can face the challenges that arise and get through this challenging period as a community.

Thank You

To all our supporters: your time, voice, and generosity make a tangible impact. You help immigrant families in Akron navigate challenges, celebrate milestones, and build hopeful futures.

IIA August Newsletter: Building Community, Sharing Stories

Each month, your support helps the International Institute of Akron meet urgent needs, strengthen families, and create a welcoming community for immigrants and refugees. In this issue, you’ll find highlights from August, a powerful family story, important immigration updates, and ways you can take action.

IIA at Akron Pride

In August, IIA joined the Akron Pride Festival to celebrate love, identity, and belonging. Pride is more than a parade , it’s a declaration that every person deserves safety and dignity, no matter who they are or where they come from.

We were proud to stand alongside Akron’s LGBTQ+ community, including immigrants and refugees who know firsthand the challenges of seeking acceptance. By showing up together, we continue to build a city where everyone is welcome.

Opening Doors with Driver’s Education

Also this summer, IIA launched a weekly driver’s education class at San Tomasso after noticing that many community members were struggling to obtain their driver’s licenses.

The program goes beyond teaching traffic rules — interpreters are present each week to make sure participants fully understand the material, gain confidence, and feel encouraged along the way. For many, a driver’s license represents independence: the ability to drive to work, take children to school, and participate more fully in daily life.

The class has been such a success that IIA will continue offering it throughout the year ahead, helping more newcomers gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive in their new home.

Supporting a Rohingya Family

In early August, IIA welcomed a Rohingya family of four, parents, a daughter, and a young son, who made the difficult decision to leave upstate New York and move to Akron.

In New York, the family had kind volunteers who supported them, but they longed for something deeper: a true community. They wanted their children to grow up surrounded by others who shared their culture and language, and they wanted the chance to build lasting relationships. Akron, with its growing and supportive Rohingya population, offered them that possibility.

Like any parents, they dream of healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives for their children. But when they arrived, it was clear they faced serious challenges:

  • The father lives with a bleeding disorder that requires careful monitoring.

  • The mother suffers from painful joint inflammation.

  • Their 3-year-old son struggles with gastrointestinal issues and is small for his age.

Despite these hardships, what shines through is their determination. They came to the United States, and to Akron, seeking safety, opportunity, and the chance to give their children a better future. These are values we all share, whether we were born here or arrived more recently.

IIA case manager Sena has been walking alongside the family for the past six weeks, connecting them with medical care, housing support, and daily resources. Her dedication ensures that they aren’t navigating these struggles alone but instead are met with compassion and practical support.

This is the heart of IIA’s mission: helping families like this one not only survive but thrive. With community support, they can focus on what matters most, raising their children, building their lives, and contributing to the city they now call home.

IIA social services case manager, Sena Al-Attabi

IIA social services case manager, Sena Al-Attabi

Immigration News: TPS for Venezuela Ends

This month, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. TPS has allowed many Venezuelans to live and work legally in the U.S. while their country continues to face political and economic turmoil.

The decision will affect thousands of Venezuelans who may lose legal protections and face uncertainty about their futures. IIA’s legal team is monitoring these developments closely and is ready to support families in our community who may be impacted.

How You Can Help

You play a critical role in sustaining IIA’s mission. Here are three ways to get involved this fall:

  • Donate: Every contribution helps provide housing, employment support, legal services, and essential resources. 

  • Fundraise for IIA: Organize a fundraiser with your workplace, congregation, or community group. Need inspiration? Head to our Resources Page for the IIA Fundraising Guide!

  • Invite Us to Speak: Bring IIA to your school, faith group, or organization to share about our work in the community. To learn more about speaking engagement, please email liv.randall@iiakron.org. 

Together, we can continue to make Akron a place of welcome and hope.

Donate Here!

Recommended Resource

Ohio Immigrant Alliance Blog – Learn, Advocate, Empower - www.ohioimmigrant.org/blog
Stay informed with stories, analysis, and advocacy tools about immigration in Ohio and beyond.
For more resources on advocacy, book recommendations, and more, head to Resources — IIA. 

Thank You

To all our supporters, thank you. Whether you give your time, your resources, or your voice, you are the reason IIA can continue meeting urgent needs and building a stronger, more welcoming Akron. Your compassion creates real change for immigrant and refugee families every single day.

IIA July Newsletter: A Century of Compassion + Stories You Need to Read

Every month, your generosity helps the International Institute of Akron meet urgent needs, lift up families in crisis, and create lasting stability for immigrants and refugees in our community. In this issue, you’ll find inspiring stories, important updates, upcoming events, and ways to take action, all showing how your support is making a difference.

Celebrating 100 Years of Ann Duff

This month, we celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 100th birthday of Ann Duff, a cherished member of the International Institute of Akron’s community.

Born in New Jersey in 1925, Ann moved with her family to Buffalo, New York, before they eventually settled in Akron, where her father accepted a position with Robinson Clay Company. As a young girl, she imagined moving “west” would mean cowboys and horses, but instead, it marked the beginning of a lifetime rooted in service and compassion.

After earning her Master’s in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University, Ann began her career at Catholic Services, supporting unwed mothers. By the late 1970s, she became deeply connected to IIA’s mission through the Social Action Committee at St. Francis. When IIA called for volunteers to welcome newly arrived refugees, Ann stepped forward without hesitation.

Her first assignment was helping a young family from a refugee camp in Thailand. Wanting to better understand their background, Ann turned to National Geographic at the library, teaching herself about Cambodian and Laotian culture. She prepared warm clothing for the family’s arrival in Akron and welcomed them with homemade soup and French bread. With IIA’s support, the father began English classes and machinist training, eventually leading the family toward new opportunities in California.

Ann’s involvement only grew. She joined IIA’s Women’s Board, collecting furniture, clothing, and donations to help countless newcomers begin their lives in Akron. Today, she continues to make an impact by encouraging her family and friends to support IIA in her honor.

For her 100th birthday, Ann’s loved ones donated more than $2,500 to IIA, a testament to the generosity she inspires.

We are endlessly grateful for Ann Duff’s century of life, leadership, and kindness. Her legacy of compassion continues to shape IIA and the Akron community.

Inside the Strain: What It Means to Be an Immigration Attorney Right Now

The past several months have brought sweeping changes to immigration policy, regulation, and law — and they’re reshaping the way our legal team can support clients. We spoke with one of IIA’s immigration attorneys about what’s happening behind the scenes, and why the fight for due process matters more than ever.

“The administration is expanding its definition of who should be detained or removed from the U.S.,” they explained. “This means more clients are at risk, even those who have lived here for years or have strong legal claims.”

The pressure is coming from all sides:

  • Policy shifts prioritize enforcement over access to lawful benefits.

  • Regulatory changes — like steep fee increases for immigration applications — make the process less affordable and more intimidating.

  • Legal changes narrow who is considered “lawfully present” and eligible for basic protections.

For our attorneys, keeping up with evolving rules while supporting clients through fear, uncertainty, and trauma has become exhausting. Burnout is rising, and even the profession itself is under attack, with legal advocates being accused of filing “frivolous” claims.

“We’re seeing clients give up entirely — sometimes choosing to leave the U.S. for a third country just to feel safe,” the attorney said. “Detention conditions are inhumane, rights are eroding, and hope is hard to hold onto.”

What can you do?

  1. Donate to nonprofits providing free or low-cost legal services.

  2. Volunteer to help clients get to appointments or connect with resources.

  3. Advocate by contacting your elected officials.

  4. Share what you learn — awareness leads to action.

Your voice and support help keep legal access alive for the most vulnerable members of our community.

Support IIA Legal Services Here

Upcoming Events with Professor Ira Sukrungruang

We’re thrilled to partner with ArtsNow and the Arts & Culture Inclusion Council to bring award-winning author, poet, and storyteller Professor Ira Sukrungruang to Akron next month for two free events exploring the power of personal narratives.

Reclaiming the Narrative – Public Talk

📅 Wednesday, September 17 | ⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 647 Coffee | 💵 Free
Register here

Professor Sukrungruang will explore how reclaiming our stories resists oversimplified narratives and celebrates the richness of diverse voices — a vital conversation in today’s climate.

Small Group Writing Workshop – Limited to 15 Participants

📅 Thursday, September 18 | ⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍International Institute of Akron | 💵 Free
Register here

A rare opportunity to work closely with Professor Sukrungruang to explore your personal narrative. Please only register if you can attend, and cancel if plans change so someone from the waitlist can join.

About Professor Sukrungruang: Born in Chicago to Thai immigrants, he is the author of This Jade World, Southside Buddhist, and Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy. He is a recipient of the American Book Award and a professor at Kenyon College, with work featured in The Rumpus, American Poetry Review, The Sun, and Creative Nonfiction.

In the News: New Barriers to Justice

Recent federal actions are reshaping the immigration landscape:

  • Increased Legal Fees: The reconciliation bill (HR 1) sharply raises the cost of applying for key immigration benefits, putting legal pathways out of reach for many.

  • Expanded ICE Funding: More resources for detention, ICE raids, ankle monitoring, and arrests — intensifying fear in immigrant communities.

  • High-Profile Enforcement Actions: Operations like “Alligator Alcatraz” show the heightened ICE presence nationwide.

  • Expedited Removal Proceedings: The government is pushing cases through with less due process, denying many immigrants a fair hearing.

  • Third-Country Removals: Some deportees are being sent to unfamiliar countries with no clear plan for safety or resettlement.

These shifts make legal advocacy, community support, and public awareness more critical than ever.

How You Can Help

  • Donate: Your support keeps IIA’s life-changing programs running and allows us to continue providing critical services to immigrants and refugees in Akron. Every contribution—big or small—helps families access education, employment support, legal assistance, and social services. Together, we can empower our community and create lasting impact.

  • Advocate: Call your representatives to speak out against harmful immigration policies and in support of humane, welcoming reforms. We’ve put some advocacy suggestions below.

    • SB 172: Would expand how local law enforcement works with ICE, increasing unnecessary detentions.

    • HB 281: Puts due process at risk, making it easier to separate families.

Take 5 Minutes to Call:
1️. Look up your Ohio State Senator and Representative: Find Them Here
2. Call with this simple message:
"Hello, my name is [Your Name] from [City]. I’m calling to urge you to oppose SB 172 and HB 281. These bills hurt Ohio families, divide communities, and make us all less safe. Please stand with immigrant families and vote NO on these bills. Thank you."
3. Share this with a friend — every voice counts.

Donate Here!

Special Thank You

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sandy and Mark Auburn for their generous donation of a beautiful Ficus tree, now brightening up our office space at IIA! Your thoughtful gift adds a touch of warmth and life to our environment — thank you for helping us grow, both literally and figuratively!

Every day, the families we serve face challenges that no one should have to endure alone. Your support — through donations, advocacy, and engagement — ensures that immigrants and refugees in Northeast Ohio can access legal guidance, safe housing, education, and hope for the future.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we continue to fight for a community where everyone feels safe, supported, and truly at home.