Session 1. This oral history interview with Zsuszanna Vamos was conducted by Sankar Raman and Briana Ybanez on August 20, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Vamos discusses her family background and early life in Budapest, Hungary, including conditions under the Communist government, her education, and listening to American radio as a teenager. She talks about her interest in chemistry and her admiration for Marie Curie, as well as her experiences attending Semmelweis University to study pharmacology. She discusses her marriage to Istvan Adany and his career, and she talks about her career in biomedical research and frustration at her inability to do the research she wanted. She then talks about applying for jobs in other countries, which led to a job offer from Kansas University Medical Center. She describes the process of immigrating to the United States and adjusting to life afterward. She talks about her children, their careers, and their families. She discusses getting her green card in 1997, Istvan Adany's career in the U.S., and their move to Hillsboro, Oregon. She closes the interview by talking about her work as an artist, her thoughts on the American Dream, and her reaction to the treatment of refugees at the time of the interview in 2018.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Yuriana Aguilar was conducted by Sankar Raman by phone call in 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Aguilar discusses her experience as an undocumented immigrant child from Mexico. She talks about pursuing higher education and a career in biology as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. She talks about being the first in her family to get a college education, her motivation to succeed, and her research in cardiology. She describes her experience of being the guest of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris at a speech President Donald Trump delivered to Congress in 2017. She describes how, in the speech, he demonized and misrepresented undocumented immigrants. She closes the interview by talking about living under the specter of deportation and her hopes for a path to citizenship.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Yamini Rajan was conducted by Monica Salazar and Sankar Raman on February 20, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Rajan discusses her family background and early life in Delhi and Bangalore, India, including Diwali celebrations and being bullied at school. She talks about immigrating to the United States in 2012 and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon, particularly at school. She discusses her social life and her family life. She speaks at length about her mental health during her teenage years, including a suicide attempt. She talks about her experience in high school, including her interest in art and making new friends. She discusses her college plans, and talks about doing public speaking about her mental health with ASHA International, A Source of Hope for All. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Xiomara Y. Torres was conducted by Lisa Cohn and Sankar Raman on September 12, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Torres discusses her family background and early life in El Paraiso, El Salvador. She shares her reasons for talking about her former status as an undocumented immigrant. She describes her family's journey to California in 1980 and talks about the reasons her family fled El Salvador during the country's civil war. She discusses her early life as an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles, including learning English, and her education. She speaks about her experiences in the U.S. foster care system. She talks about the process of receiving her green card, her experiences at the University of California, Berkeley, and about how her experiences in foster care influenced her choice to attend law school. She also talks about receiving U.S. citizenship in 2002, and speaks about her work as a family law lawyer in Oregon. She discusses doing interviews about her experiences, and a play written about her life. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Wilondja D. Mashimango was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Sankar Raman on March 8, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Mashimango talks about immigrating to the United States in 2015. He discusses his family background in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his early life in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, including his education, living conditions, and recreational activities. He discusses common cultural beliefs about witchcraft. He talks about adjusting to life in the United States, including learning English; his experience in high school in Portland, particularly playing soccer; and his experience at Portland State University. He closes the interview by sharing his plans for the future, and advice for other immigrants.

In the second interview session, Srinivasan continues to discuss his relationship with his first girlfriend. He talks about his experiences as a gay man in India, including his social life. He then discusses the reasons he came to the United States to continue his studies, and shares his experiences at the University of Cincinnati, including his social life, his studies, and getting involved in the gay community. He also talks about racism he experienced. He speaks about moving to Wilsonville, Oregon, in 2006, discusses his involvement with the Portland Gay Men's Chorus, and talks about his dating life. He then talks about changing jobs and moving to Boston, Massachusetts, then Bangalore, India, in 2012; about falling in love before moving, and returning to the U.S. to marry his boyfriend in 2015; and about coming out to his family. He closes the interview by discussing his relationship with his family after his marriage, by talking about his relationship with his husband, and by sharing advice for gay and lesbian South Asians, and their families.

In the first interview session, Srinivasan discusses his family background and early life as a member of the Brahmin caste in Chennai, India, and describes life in a multi-generational household and a close-knit neighborhood. He speaks at length about his experiences during his education in India, talks about his love of studying languages, and about the social pressure to study science and math. He describes navigating romantic relationships as a teenager and realizing that he was gay. He speaks at length about his relationship with his first girlfriend.

Session 2. This oral history interview with Victor D. Bencomo Acevedo was conducted by Kristin Cole and Sankar Raman on May 4, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the second interview session, Benecomo Acevedo discusses the risks involved in sharing his story, his sister’s kidnapping by colectivos, and the safety of his family at the time of the interview in 2018.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Victor D. Bencomo Acevedo was conducted by Kristin Cole and Sankar Raman on May 4, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the first session, Bencomo Acevedo discusses his family and early life in Venezuela. He talks about his college experience, his opposition to the government of Hugo Chávez, and the oppression he and his family experienced. He discusses studying economics and working at Benesco Banco Universal. He describes dealing with food shortages in Venezuela; the attempts on his life by Venezuelan paramilitary groups, known as the “colectivos,” including the kidnapping of his sister, as a result of his attendance at a protest; and his escape from Venezuela in 2014. He talks about studying business English in Portland, Oregon, as a student through the Kaplan International Institute, receiving word that he had been officially declared a traitor to Venezuela, and the plight of his family still in Venezuela. He discusses the process for applying for asylum in the United States; the mental toll of his experiences; and the community he has found in Portland.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Van Tran was conducted by Shea Seery and Sankar Raman in 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Tran discusses her family background and early life in Saigon, Vietnam, including her education, particularly learning languages, and her love of music. She shares her experiences during the Vietnam War. She talks about her father's work with the U.S. military and his imprisonment in a North Vietnamese camp. She shares her memories of the fall of Saigon in 1975, and describes her family's attempts to escape to the United States. She then describes the process of emigrating to the U.S. in 1985, including a stopover in the Philippines, where she taught English and met her future husband. She talks about her marriage in 1987, about raising a family in Stockton, California, and about opening Phở Lê, a Vietnamese restaurant in Camas, Washington, in 1991. She talks about the restaurant's success, about opening other locations in Portland and Vancouver, and about her and her husband's reasons for closing the Camas location. She also looks at photographs and talks about them.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Susheela Jayapal was conducted by Sankar Raman on June 1, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Monica Salazar was also present.

In this interview, Jayapal discusses her family background and early life in India, Singapore, and in Jakarta, Indonesia, including her education. She talks about her reasons for going to the United States for college, and shares her experiences as an international student studying economics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She talks about working for Goldman Sachs in New York State after graduating, then shares her experiences studying law at the University of Chicago. She also discusses the availability of Indian cuisine in the U.S. She talks about practicing law in San Francisco, California, about her marriage to Bradley Stuart Miller, and about raising biracial children in Portland, Oregon. She then talks about working as a lawyer for Adidas, shares her reasons for quitting in 2000, and discusses her involvement in several non-profit organizations in Portland. She shares her reasons for running for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in 2017, talks about her campaign, and discusses the issues she plans to address while in office, including housing. She closes the interview by talking about communicating with her constituents, and about encouraging more Indian Americans to run for office.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Sumitra Chhetri was conducted by Sankar Raman on March 19, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Chhetri discusses her early life in a camp for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. She describes the educational system in the camp, as well as her social life and daily activities. She talks about the process of resettling in the United States in 2008; describes her experience attending high school in Portland, Oregon; and discusses learning English as a second language. She talks about studying political science at Portland State University and her future plans, including her intention to attend law school and run for office. Sankar Raman shares advice for seeking out career mentors. Chhetri closes the interview by discussing the challenges she has faced as a first-generation immigrant.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Sivheng Ung was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman on March 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Ung discusses her family background and early life in Battambang, Cambodia, describes a happy and affluent childhood, and talks about her education. She describes the rise of the communist rebels who would become the Khmer Rouge during the 1960s and 1970s. She speaks about living in Phnom Penh in the early 1970s, about her marriage in 1974, and about the Khmer Rouge takeover of the capital in 1975. She speaks at length about her experiences during the forced march of Phnom Penh residents to a labor camp, talks about conditions in the camp, and describes what they did to survive. She gives a detailed account of her attempt to escape with her husband, and talks about their eventual capture and imprisonment, which led to the murder of her husband and a miscarriage around 1977. She describes her months-long illness and depression following these losses, her continued ordeal during the Khmer Rouge regime, and the horrors she witnessed over the next years. She talks about returning to Battambang and reuniting with her surviving family after Pol Pot was overthrown. She then describes her successful escape to Thailand with her brother and her future husband in 1979, talks about living in a refugee camp, and describes the process of immigrating to the United States. She shares how her traumatic experiences in Cambodia affected her ability to adjust to life in the U.S. and Portland, Oregon. She talks about her marriage to Van Touch in 1984, about the education, family, and career of her younger brother, and about jobs she and her husband worked. She closes the interview by sharing her reasons for talking about her experiences, including the death of her son, and talks about what she hopes others learn from her story.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Sivheng Ung was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman on March 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Ung discusses her family background and early life in Battambang, Cambodia, describes a happy and affluent childhood, and talks about her education. She describes the rise of the communist rebels who would become the Khmer Rouge during the 1960s and 1970s. She speaks about living in Phnom Penh in the early 1970s, about her marriage in 1974, and about the Khmer Rouge takeover of the capital in 1975. She speaks at length about her experiences during the forced march of Phnom Penh residents to a labor camp, talks about conditions in the camp, and describes what they did to survive. She gives a detailed account of her attempt to escape with her husband, and talks about their eventual capture and imprisonment, which led to the murder of her husband and a miscarriage around 1977. She describes her months-long illness and depression following these losses, her continued ordeal during the Khmer Rouge regime, and the horrors she witnessed over the next years. She talks about returning to Battambang and reuniting with her surviving family after Pol Pot was overthrown. She then describes her successful escape to Thailand with her brother and her future husband in 1979, talks about living in a refugee camp, and describes the process of immigrating to the United States. She shares how her traumatic experiences in Cambodia affected her ability to adjust to life in the U.S. and Portland, Oregon. She talks about her marriage to Van Touch in 1984, about the education, family, and career of her younger brother, and about jobs she and her husband worked. She closes the interview by sharing her reasons for talking about her experiences, including the death of her son, and talks about what she hopes others learn from her story.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Sarah Rikaz was conducted by Sankar Raman on January 11, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Rikaz Thaha and an unidentified man were also present and contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Rikaz discusses her family background and early life in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and shares her memories of the civil war in Sri Lanka. She talks about her cultural and ethnic identity, about her education, and about her early interest in art. She speaks about studying graphic design online through the Institute of Business Management, about her career in graphic design in Sri Lanka, and about the 2004 tsunami. She discusses her marriage to Rikaz Thaha in 2008, and immigrating to the United States in 2010. Rikaz Thaha talks about his career and about the immigration process. Sarah Rikaz talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., about working and raising a family in the Portland, Oregon, area, and about her career as an artist. She closes the interview by discussing her plans for the future.

Session 1, Part 4. This oral history interview with Sabina Haque was conducted by Sankar Raman on November 11, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the fourth and final part of this interview, Haque closes the interview by discussing maintaining relationships with racist family members, the importance of art in bridging political divides, and her hopes for a more diverse Portland City Council.

Session 1, Part 3. This oral history interview with Sabina Haque was conducted by Sankar Raman on November 11, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the third part of this interview, Haque discusses her art and how her cultural and ethnic identities inform her work. She talks about her experience as a Pakistani with white American heritage and the uncertainty her family has felt during the political climate of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Sabina Haque was conducted by Sankar Raman on November 11, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the second part of this interview, Haque discusses leaving Pakistan to attend Smith College in Massachusetts and adjusting to life in the United States. She then talks about going on to study art at Boston University and the disapproval of her parents. She also talks about her marriage.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Sabina Haque was conducted by Sankar Raman on November 11, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the first part of this interview, Haque discusses her family background and early life in Karachi, Pakistan, including living under the U.S-backed dictatorship of President Zia-ul-Haq; being raised as a secular Muslim, and her education. She also talks about the changes in Pakistan during her lifetime, particularly in regard to women’s rights.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Ruby Chen was conducted by Jessica Pollard and Sankar Raman on January 8, 2019. A woman identified only as Nancy was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview questions. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Chen discusses her family background and early life in Taipei, Taiwan, and talks about her early violin lessons and participation in music competitions. She speaks about moving with her family to Toronto, Canada, including adjusting to life in Canada, her education, and participating in music competitions. She also talks about the origins of her English name, Ruby. She discusses studying violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and talks about making friends, adjusting to life in the United States, and living away from her family. She then briefly talks about studying violin at the Yale School of Music and playing in a string quartet. She also shares an anecdote about working with Josh Groban and with Celtic Thunder while a student at Eastman. She describes the process of auditioning for symphonies, and discusses her career as a violinist for the Oregon Symphony. She talks about teaching violin, about how Taiwan has changed since she left, and about her life in Portland, Oregon. She closes the interview by discussing her activities outside of her career with the symphony, talking about her cultural identity, and sharing advice for aspiring musicians.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Ruby Chen was conducted by Jessica Pollard and Sankar Raman on January 8, 2019. A woman identified only as Nancy was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview questions. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Chen discusses her family background and early life in Taipei, Taiwan, and talks about her early violin lessons and participation in music competitions. She speaks about moving with her family to Toronto, Canada, including adjusting to life in Canada, her education, and participating in music competitions. She also talks about the origins of her English name, Ruby. She discusses studying violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and talks about making friends, adjusting to life in the United States, and living away from her family. She then briefly talks about studying violin at the Yale School of Music and playing in a string quartet. She also shares an anecdote about working with Josh Groban and with Celtic Thunder while a student at Eastman. She describes the process of auditioning for symphonies, and discusses her career as a violinist for the Oregon Symphony. She talks about teaching violin, about how Taiwan has changed since she left, and about her life in Portland, Oregon. She closes the interview by discussing her activities outside of her career with the symphony, talking about her cultural identity, and sharing advice for aspiring musicians.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Ruben Estrada-Herrera was conducted by Sankar Raman on February 15, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Estrada-Herrera discusses his early life in Santiago, Cuba, including the festival of Carnavales, his education, and Cuban culture. He describes the process of immigrating to the United States in 2011. He talks about his life in Portland, Oregon, including his parents' careers, his education, and learning English as a second language. He discusses earning scholarships, choosing to attend Warner Pacific University, and studying bio-medical engineering. He closes the interview by talking about his plans for the future and his thoughts on the American Dream.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Resa Uddin was conducted by Allison Merkel and Sankar Raman on July 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Uddin discusses his family background and early life in Maungdaw, Burma, in the 1960s and 1970s, including the relationship between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. He describes the deterioration in the status of Rohingya Muslims after the 1982 change to the Burmese constitution that rescinded their citizenship, and talks about his experience in college in Rangoon, including his involvement in student organizations for Rohingya rights. He also discusses the history of oppression of the Rohingya, and describes the oppression he and his family experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. He speaks about coming to the United States on a student visa, and about his experiences living and studying in Pendleton, Oregon. He talks about the process of receiving asylum. He discusses his experiences at Portland State University, and as the only Rohingya in Portland until 2005. He also talks about his marriage and the process of getting a green card for his wife. He discusses jobs he held, including running a gas station with his wife in Salem, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about his work to help other Rohingya refugees, and by sharing his thoughts about the future of the Rohingya people.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Resa Uddin was conducted by Allison Merkel and Sankar Raman on July 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Uddin discusses his family background and early life in Maungdaw, Burma, in the 1960s and 1970s, including the relationship between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. He describes the deterioration in the status of Rohingya Muslims after the 1982 change to the Burmese constitution that rescinded their citizenship, and talks about his experience in college in Rangoon, including his involvement in student organizations for Rohingya rights. He also discusses the history of oppression of the Rohingya, and describes the oppression he and his family experienced in the 1980s and 1990s. He speaks about coming to the United States on a student visa, and about his experiences living and studying in Pendleton, Oregon. He talks about the process of receiving asylum. He discusses his experiences at Portland State University, and as the only Rohingya in Portland until 2005. He also talks about his marriage and the process of getting a green card for his wife. He discusses jobs he held, including running a gas station with his wife in Salem, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about his work to help other Rohingya refugees, and by sharing his thoughts about the future of the Rohingya people.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Rand Ibraheem was conducted by Sankar Raman on April 4, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Ibraheem discusses her early life in Baghdad, Iraq. She describes the violence of the Iraq War, including being driven from her home by a group of armed men. She talks about life as a refugee in Damascus, Syria; waiting for asylum in the United States; and the outbreak of civil war in Syria, which again drove her family from their home. She describes in detail her memories of the 2012 bombing of her neighborhood. She talks about seeking refuge in Lebanon and living in Beirut, including her education. She then discusses the process of getting approved for resettlement in the United States and coming to Portland, Oregon, in 2014. She talks about her life in Portland, including her education. She closes the interview by discussing her plans for the future, and discrimination she faces as a Muslim.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Rahel Nardos was conducted by Sankar Raman and Maleya Luis on March 28, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Nardos discusses her early life in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including life under communism, access to health care, and her education. She talks about her experience attending the International Community School in Addis Ababa as a scholarship student. She also talks about the famine in Ethiopia during the 1980s. She then talks about applying for college in the United States and attending Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; about the barriers to her plans to attend medical school in the United States as an immigrant; and adjusting to life in the U.S. She also shares an anecdote about her first encounter with the U.S. customs agency. She discusses the U.S. political climate at the time of the interview in 2018, including her experiences with racism. She talks about attending Yale School of Medicine, including financing her education; her reasons for specializing in obstetrics and gynecology; and settling in Oregon. She speaks about a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Oregonian newspaper, titled "My patients don't care I'm from a 'shithole' country," and talks about the increase in racism since Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. She discusses balancing family life with her career as a doctor; her work in women's health in Ethiopia with Footsteps to Healing; and her other volunteer work. She closes the interview by discussing her cultural and ethnic identity.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Prashant Kakad was conducted by Sankar Raman on July 20, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this part of the interview, Kakad discusses his experience studying polymer science and working as a research assistant at Cornell University. He talks about adjusting to life in the United States, realizing that he didn’t want to pursue a career in chemical engineering, and rediscovering his passion for dance and music. He discusses dealing with body image issues and depression. He then talks about moving to Hillsboro, Oregon, and working for Intel; learning and performing classical Indian singing; and teaching his own dance choreography based on Bollywood music. He also gives a brief history of Bollywood music. He describes quitting his job at Intel in 2009 and beginning his career as a DJ. He then talks about the process of getting his green card. He closes the interview by discussing people who helped him succeed.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Prashant Kakad was conducted by Sankar Raman on July 20, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this part of the interview, Kakad discusses his early life in India, including his father’s career in the Air Force and later as a police officer in Bombay. He describes life in Bombay as a teenager, the pressure to succeed at education in the sciences, and his passion for music and dance. He talks about competing in singing competitions in high school, attending Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, and organizing cultural events at his college. He describes applying to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.