By Nicole Navarro
Faki escaped Somalia one month ago. Militants killed his brother and he knew he couldn't live there anymore. He came to Idaho looking for change. His interpreter, Abubakar Mohamed says "Since he came down here, he got a lot of peace, new life, so he's happy."
Now a local group wants to make sure other immigrants feel welcome too. On one bus bench it says "Immigration is an American experience." It's part of a campaign by the Idaho Community Action Network called the "Welcoming Idaho Initiative." It's a way to reach out to the entire community to help gain acceptance.
"The current climate right now around race and immigration in Idaho does not reflect our values. It is a climate of fear," says ICAN member Antonina Robles.
The coalition says immigration raids in Idaho have divided the community.
Faki says even though he already feels welcome here, the new advertisements are a good idea. He likes the area so much, he wants to give back in the future by working, going to school and then joining the army.
Source: 2News TV,November 15, 2007