Four years ago, Nasiba Usmonova had just graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree in applied econometrics and was starting a job as a data analyst. The future looked bright for the single mother of three who came to the United States from her native Tajikistan on a Fulbright scholarship.

Then, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the company Usmonova was working for suddenly stopped paying employees. She labored on for several months in accordance with the regulations of her work visa, hoping things would improve. But when the business finally closed she found herself out of a job and out of money, her pursuit of the American Dream seemingly dashed.