Dear friends and community, we are writing to ask for urgent support on behalf of our dear friend, Israt Audry. Israt is a social worker with a background in community organizing. Their beloved grandmother, who currently resides in Bangladesh, is facing age-related illness, and the news of her declining health has deeply saddened their entire family. 

Due to documentation status, Israt has been unable to visit their family in the motherland for over two decades. Recently, Israt gained permanent residency status, and now has the opportunity to visit their grandmother and reconnect with their family in Bangladesh. Planning this trip holds immense significance as it rests on a threshold between life and death, and it stirs up a multitude of emotions for our friend. 

 For the first time in their life, Israt has the opportunity to legally travel out of the U.S. The joy and hopefulness tied to the prospect of returning to their home country and to visit their only surviving grandparent was cut short upon receiving the news of their grandmother’s declining health. Now, what would have been a trip to look forward to has been disrupted with financial stress and the fear of not getting to Bangladesh soon enough. Besides the significant amount of funds that have already gone into the legal proceedings during their adjustment of status process, international travel entails various expenses, such as airfare for themselves and their younger brother ($5,388.90), and cushion expenses ($1500). These financial burdens weigh heavily on Israt, their friends and myself are seeking this support on their behalf in making this journey possible. Their grandmother holds an irreplaceable place in Israt's life, and the thought of being able to spend precious time with her during these late years of her life, brings them comfort and solace in an otherwise heartbreaking situation. Israt’s grandmother has played a profound role in shaping the person Israt has become, instilling in them the values of infinite love, compassion, and resilience. 

Visiting beloved family members should not be a luxury afforded to those who are privileged enough to access it yet the conditions of xenophobia and other systems of oppression make it so. The grief of losing a loved one is heavy enough as it is, but to be compounded with the grief of losing physical connection to land, to what could have been but never was, to parts of your culture and oral history that only our elders hold is indescribable. This call for support is just as much about helping a dear friend return home as it is a response to the legacies of imperialism that destabilize homelands and displace its people, break apart families and attempt to rob communities of their humanity. This situation should not exist to begin with. Forced migration should not exist. The arbitrary violence of border policies should not exist. The systematic separation of families should not exist. This GoFundMe shouldn’t have to exist, but here we are. Your generous contribution to this GoFundMe campaign will help Israt travel to Bangladesh and be by their grandmother's side, and to fulfill a deep yearning for reconnection to a home they were forced to leave as a child. Every dollar matters and will directly contribute to covering travel expenses and any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. 

We kindly request you consider supporting our sweet friend in reconnecting with their grandmother, to their motherland, and in providing comfort and care to their grandmother as she heals from her recent illnesses and injuries. Your compassion and generosity will not only impact their family but also serve as a testament to the power of a community coming together in times of need. Please share this campaign with your friends, colleagues, and social networks to help spread the word and expand our reach. Your support means the world to our friend, and they are immensely grateful for any contribution you can make. 

 Thank you for being a source of hope and assistance during this challenging time. Together, let us make this journey to Bangladesh a reality and allow our friend to reconnect with a part of themselves that has been inaccessible for over two decades. Love, Nancy Uddin (and friend’s from Israt’s support system across the country) 

To optimize your contributions and avoid the GFM fee, you can also send funds via Venmo or Zelle. Venmo: @iaudry Zelle: [email redacted]