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The United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world. Today, more than 40 million people living in the U.S. were born in another country, accounting for about one-fifth of the world’s migrants, a significant portion.

The population of immigrants is very diverse, with just about every country in the world represented among U.S. immigrants. However, newly arrived immigrants and migrants  face significant challenges while adapting to unfamiliar customs, social norms, laws, responsibilities, and accessing resources

Without proper guidance and access to information during the initial resettlement process, some individuals are left to navigate their new environment through trial and error. Unfortunate, poor decisions or a lack of understanding regarding legal responsibilities can sometimes lead to serious consequences, including deportation. 

Deportation rate among Caribbean immigrants and lawful permanent residents accounts for a substantial percentage has had devastating impact that far extends far beyond the individual.  Families often experience separation, financial hardship, housing instability, and emotional distress. It can destabilize entire families, and communities.

The United Immigrants and Migrants Assimilation Project (UIMAProject) was established to guide and support documented immigrants and migrants like AJ in making the informed decisions, and understanding their rights and responsibilities, while maintaining lawful status and reducing the risk of preventable consequences as in unnecessary deportation.

United Immigrants and Migrants Assimilation Project (UIMAProject) Inc is a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, New York. The organization provides guided resettlement programs, and related services designed to help documented and recently arrived immigrants and migrants to successfully integrate into  their communities in the USA.

Although our work places a particular focus on the Caribbean immigrants, our programs welcome all individuals who may benefit from our services.

We connect immigrants and migrants with valuable community resources and provide awareness workshops covering topics such as education, employment opportunities, rights and responsibilities, housing, healthcare and immigration related resources.

Our future plans also include providing housing for homeless returning residents, including individuals who have been involuntarily returned to their country of birth who are ready and able to work toward rebuilding their lives. 

Our Guiding Framework

Our mission is aligned with the post arrival awareness and orientation goals promoted by International Organization for Migration (IOM).

IOM supports migrants across the world. by developing effective responses to the changing dynamics of migration and providing guidance on migration policy and practice. Their work includes responding to  emergencies, strengthening resilience of all people on the move, particularly those in situations of vulnerability, as well as building capacity within governments to manage all forms and impacts of mobility.

UIMAProject is also inspired by Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, which emphasizes empowering individuals through education, guidance, and support while encouraging them to actively participate in meeting their needs.

Through education and guidance, individuals are provided with the tools necessary to make informed decisions and take meaningful steps towards stability and self sufficiency.

Our Story. A Story of Migration, Separation and Starting Over

Conceptualized: A.J’s Story, from Jamaica to New York to Involuntarily Returned to Jamaica

A.J immigrated to the USA from Jamaica when he was 10 years of age to live with his parents. He grew up in the Queens, New York in the United States of America with his immediate family consisting of mother, father, sisters and brother. He dropped out of school, and became entangled
with the law. As a teenager, his behavior conflicted with his parents’ rules and he was locked out of the home and he became homeless. He began staying with friends, then he started selling drugs for drug dealers. He had a two year old child who lived with mother and maternal grand-parents, and he provided for the child.

At the age of twenty-nine, he was involuntarily returned to his birth country (Jamaica) for the first time since the age of ten. Upon his return to Jamaica, he was received by his aunt who he didn’t remember. His aunt, even though willing to assist him, was also financially limited herself and expected that money would follow him from the United States, but that rarely happened. Therefore, his welcome ran out, and he was asked to leave. He lived with other family members.  A relative committed a crime in his presence such as stealing and tried to blame it on him. A.J was not a thief, a police officer advised him to leave those relatives. He lived in different places unlike what he was used to in the USA.
His parents, and siblings were heartbroken when A.J was removed from the United States involuntarily. It was a shock to everyone when A.J was deported, they didn’t know that a Green Card Holder could have been deported. 

A.J while living in Jamaica was often mocked, teased about his status. Without a place to call home nor having regular meals were his daily challenges. Upon his parents visiting Jamaica and realizing that he was homeless, AJ’s parents made a downpayment on a plot of land, and built a single room for A.J to live.

Having a permanent home quickly improved A.J’s stability and living condition. He initially bought and resold items to make a living. He became an entrepreneur in the restaurant industry serving delicious food in his unique style. He admitted that having a home gave him a foundation to start his life over on the right path. AJ often reminisces on his life’s journey, the life he left in the USA including being separated from his two year old daughter, first love, parents and siblings.

A.J admits that his behavior warranted punishment but, after doing his time in jail, his punishment continued without an ending.

AJ often wished that he knew about having a Green Card was a privilege with conditions that violation would result in it being taken away, then removed from the country that he really called home (deported).  A.J believes that he would have listened more to his parents more than his classmates who he followed down the wrong path.

A.J’s story inspired us to start United Immigrants and Migrants Assimilation Project, Inc, based on the identified needs for documented immigrants and migrants to be aware of their roles and responsibilities whether they are traveling abroad to live permanently or just work then returning home. 

Angela Beeson, is the leading director of this initiative.  She has more than 25 years of experience in the service industry implementing Self-Care Deficit Theory as described by Dorothea Orem, empowering individuals through guidance and education. 

Guided by the IOM statement and Dorothea Orem’s Theory, we are approaching the Missed resettlement of documented immigrants as a condition requiring guidance for sustainable resolution. Therefore, avoiding the Missed in the Hit or Missed approach to resettlement. Empowering individuals with knowledge and skills can decrease risk of immigrants being involuntarily returned in the future (deported).