I’m raising funds on behalf of our dear friend and community member Anisa, whose husband is unjustly facing deportation and urgently needs legal assistance.

Anisa has spent nearly 20 years in Seattle building a life centered around her love for her family and her community. She and her husband came to the United States from Somalia to escape civil war and create a safer future for themselves.

Today, Anisa is a U.S. citizen, a devoted mother of four, and a trusted Community Connector at a local nonprofit, where she helps low-income families access food, housing, and essential resources. Her deep compassion and lived experience as an immigrant to this country make her a fierce advocate for others. She often shares how difficult it was for her to arrive in a new country fleeing violence, with no family and few resources, and she’s dedicated her life to helping others facing those same challenges.

Anisa and her family are the kind of people who make a community feel like home. They seem to know everyone, and they care deeply about every single person they meet. Once you know them, you’re family. Their kindness, generosity, and constant willingness to help others have touched so many lives.

Now, Anisa and her family are facing an unimaginable crisis. Her husband, a longtime health care worker who has cared for critically ill patients -- including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic -- is facing unjust deportation proceedings. Despite having legal permanent residency, no criminal record, and a long record of community service, he is fighting to remain with Anisa and their children in the city they’ve called home for nearly two decades.

Anisa’s two youngest children are still in school, and her oldest daughter attends community college. They’re bright, hardworking students who volunteer regularly alongside their parents at their neighborhood food bank. The compassion and generosity of Anisa and her family shine brightest in the way they respond to life’s hardest challenges.

In 2021, they tragically lost their beloved son and brother, Mahamed, in a drowning accident at Green Lake. In their deep grief, they turned pain into purpose, raising funds to ensure every child could learn to swim. Because of their efforts, countless kids have gained lifesaving skills.

Anisa now serves on the Board of Directors for No More Under, a nonprofit dedicated to water safety and equitable access to swimming education. Even in the face of heartbreaking loss, Anisa continues to give back, embodying compassion and courage in everything she does.

Now, Anisa, who has given so much of herself to serve others, is in urgent need of help. She and her family need help paying for an immigration attorney to fight the deportation case and keep their family together.

Please consider donating or sharing this campaign to support Anisa and her family. Every contribution makes a real difference and brings them one step closer to keeping their family together in the community they have helped build and nurture for so many years.