The expansion of ICE in the United States has caused political polarization. Agents have been deployed to various cities, and protests have emerged in response.
These developments have sparked uncertainty among the immigrant community, increasing fear and confusion.
The local nonprofit, Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), works to empower the immigrant community in the Quad City region despite being far from metropolitan areas.
QCAIR was founded in 2012 after the passing of 11-year-old Michael Niyubahwe, a refugee from Burundi who tragically drowned in Rock Island. His death was a wake-up call for the Quad City community, revealing that migrant families were navigating an unfamiliar environment with little guidance or support.
As of 2026, QCAIR offers a variety of support for the immigrant community, including assistance with case work, SNAP, Medicaid, housing, employment, school enrollment, translation and transportation.
“The team helps to connect immigrants to trusted community resources. We meet people everywhere, whether it is in their homes, their faith-based communities, schools or cultural gathering spaces,” shared Ferdaus Ahmad, QCAIR’s Outreach Director. “We also have language services, so if someone cannot speak English, we will use translators so we can speak to them in their language and honor their traditions.”
Despite their guidance in the community, QCAIR’s year of supporting the community has looked different. The nonprofit has had to cancel events, such as their annual World Cup Soccer Tournament, or modify activities due to the emergence of fear.
“We have clients who have self-deported back to countries that are not stable. Imagine moving your family back to some place that you left because the United States became unsafe,” said Timothy Bladel, the Social Services Director for QCAIR.
Despite these challenges, members of QCAIR continue to volunteer and support the immigrant community. For them, being a pillar of guidance and support has been deeply meaningful.
“Being an immigrant myself, I think helping immigrants has enriched my life. And I see no other way. This is my way,” expressed Ahmad. “I have worked with little girls in the Quad City area to teach them math, science […] to encourage them, and they all come from immigrant families […] if there’s a little push, they achieve more. For me, that’s success by itself.”
This sense of fulfillment is echoed by others in the organization.
“As a social service director, I’m usually dealing with benefits […] when somebody comes up to me and says ‘you know, I didn’t think I would get through this,’ and I didn’t do anything special other than provide them a service, but it’s really nice to help facilitate that,” shared Bladel. “[…]you get to impact your community in a positive way at a time that we need it.”
Their efforts have left a tremendous impact on immigrants who seek assistance from QCAIR. Sofia Hernandez (pseudonym), an immigrant from South America, has found QCAIR to have been greatly helpful in her immigration journey.
“The situation in my home country was very bad with cartels and violence. I came to the United States to look for safety for myself and my family. My fear […] is that we will be sent back to that situation again […] I want to contribute here,” shared Hernandez.
While uncertainty continues to shape the lives of immigrant families, QCAIR remains a source of steady support. Through advocacy, support and education, they offer hope.
As the need for support grows, QCAIR continues to rely on community involvement to carry out its mission. Community members can get involved by volunteering their time or sponsoring the annual Honors Dinner, which celebrates the diversity in the region.
At the same time, immigrants and refugees seeking care and assistance can find guidance at QCAIR as a trusted resource to navigate a new environment.
In a time marked by fear, collective support can make a monumental difference.
