Ata Ullah was born stateless. His family are Rohingyan – a people persecuted for their Muslim religion in their home country of Burma. He was born to parents living as refugees in Bangladesh, where they were faced barriers to citizenship, education, or the freedom to build a life outside of their refugee camp. As he grew older, he sought opportunity and safety in Malaysia and even Australia – only to find more barriers to safety and opportunity.
“For 25 years I have no words in my mouth to say where I am from. I am from nowhere.”
Ata Ullah’s journey to Australia proved to be the most dangerous – spending days stranded on an island after his boat broke down, and ultimately being apprehended by Australian officials. He found himself one of the thousands of other refugees that were sent to the pacific island of Nauru, where many seeking asylum in Australia are sent. He was stuck on the island for years.
“We had no security, no personal property, no sureness of being fed. Sometimes we were given an opportunity to shower, but not always. It was torture. Mental and physical torture.”
Ata Ullah was one of the fortunate individuals to be a part of an international agreement between the United States and Australia, back when the former administration had a more welcoming philosophy for refugee resettlement. In 2016 the US agreed to accept 1200 refugees from the camps of Nauru – and Ata Ullah found himself with a ticket to the US.
He was excited to come to a diverse, welcoming city like Chicago. He found work in customer service and began rebuilding his life – when he found an ad at Heartland Alliance looking for an individual that knew the language and culture of refugees from Burma, and he knew he had to apply. For years, it has been a dream to find an agency that would allow him to use his experiences and knowledge to serve those who have had to face the same traumas as his own – and work together to overcome them.
“It is hard not to see this as discrimination. We have seen that the freedom to move allowed for some, but not others. That freedom of movement is easier if the color of your skin is acceptable, or when you are rich, or have the right religion. There is hypocrisy in the system.”
He’s been working with our team for the last six months – and as the current administration recommends a fourth consecutive year of welcoming fewer refugees into the country, his frustrations with the system echoes that of the people he serves.
“This reduction is shocking. It shakes us. The reduction shows a lack of appreciation for us already here. It tells us we are not wanted,” Ata Ullah said. “You know, we have a positive impact on our communities and economies – but the administration doesn’t seem to care. When we come here, we focus on bettering our lives, nothing else.”
For Ata Ullah and others from his own community, this reduction in the refugee resettlement cap is just one more policy that underscores the current administration’s unwelcoming philosophy. He remembers the Muslim back in 2017, a national moment that seemed to defy what he believed America to be: welcoming. As COVID-19, an economic crisis, and civil injustices became the highlight of 2020 – he believes that his human-services job is now also a matter of fighting for systemic change.
“These times have shown where the problems reside – in discrimination and in unfairness. Even access to medical care, you see it is in black and immigrant communities where people are not getting the healthcare they need as they face this pandemic,” Ata Ullah said. “Heartland has been working hard to help people make sure they pay rent, find work, and find education solutions.”
Nevertheless, Ata Ullah still has hope in his new home country. He believes in the values that most of us share – in equity, in opportunity. Alongside his fellow human-rights workers at Heartland Alliance, Ata Ullah sees a path toward growth and prosperity for all Americans.
“I am working on my life and being better, and I believe America has to recognize its own weaknesses and do better. We have to utilize our resources to create the best outcomes for as many people as possible.”
And Ata Ullah is ready to help our communities do better. He sees his new role at Heartland Alliance as an opportunity to create a better world – and no systemic barrier is going to stop him from that.
“The uncertainty today doesn’t matter to me. People need help. People from Nauru island need help, and I will be there for them. I have seen how we can help people fulfill not only their needs, but their dreams. It is because of heartland alliance that we can do this. I hope that in the future we can do even more, and help reduce the barriers that people face still today.”
