The Breaking of the American Dream is an ongoing photographic series that explores the impact of immigration policies on refugee and immigrant families in the United States.
Central to this narrative, is the story of the last family to successfully resettle in Ohio with the help of the ETSS organization, after spending 15 years in a Somali refugee camp. They were able to reach the U.S. just before the Trump administration enacted stricter immigration and refugee admission regulations, which resulted in a halt to ETSS's funding and its ability to continue assisting families like theirs.
The series begins on theday the family left the hotel provided by the organization, where they had been staying for two months, and moved into their first permanent home in the U.S. The images show the move itself, carrying donated furniture and belongings donated by the local community, and the moment they stepped into their own home for the first time.