In 2018, Dmitry and his wife traveled from Ukraine and crossed the US southern border together where they requested asylum. Dmitry was then sent to the Northwest ICE detention center in Tacoma, but his wife, who was pregnant, was sent to an ICE facility in Texas, then released. Dimitry did not know where she was — ICE would not tell him.

Dimitry’s wife didn’t know how to reach him either. He spent four months in ICE detention; when released, he was warmly greeted by volunteers at the AIDNW Welcome Center RV. He had won asylum, but he had no relatives in the US with whom to stay. AIDNW transported him to their Hospitality House for temporary housing. He asked AIDNW staff to help him find his wife. The AIDNW Program Manager located her in a shelter in Texas, where their baby had been born. Dimitry asked if his wife and baby could stay at the AIDNW Hospitality House as well, and that was arranged. His father in Ukraine sent him money to buy a car, and he drove to Texas to pick up his wife and new baby. The couple and their baby lived at the AIDNW Hospitality House for three months, and AIDNW volunteers enjoyed giving them a baby shower. After three months, World Relief stepped in and helped them find permanent housing.

A few months later, Dmitry received his work permit and began working for a crane operation business. He had done similar work in Ukraine, working as a crane mechanic. After only six months, he started his own business – a mobile crane repair operation. He has been very successful with the business, bought a house, and brought his father from Ukraine to live with them. His father works together with him in the crane repair business.

Recently, Dmitry has been very active in helping people escape the war in Ukraine, arranging for their travel to safety in Poland. He says he does this because he is very grateful for all the help he received here in the US, and he wants to help others.