Maryam Sy is a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights and language access, serving as the Organizing Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. Raised in France and Sénégal, and now based in Ohio, she has played a pivotal role in supporting Black Mauritanians and other immigrants fighting to prevent deportation, and is a powerful voice in advocating for asylum protections.

A committed community activist in the U.S. and abroad, Sy has led successful fundraisers to help a baby in Senegal receive life-saving surgery and to pay the bond for a Mauritanian man seeking asylum, among other efforts. In 2020, she helped raise over $10,000 to secure basic human rights for people in urgent need. She earned her Healthcare Administration diploma from Cuyahoga Community College in 2013.

During the first Trump administration, Maryam conducted in-depth interviews with more than 250 individuals who were deported or forced to leave the U.S. — many of whom faced severe persecution if made to return to the countries they had once fled. She spent hundreds of hours documenting their stories, which became the foundation for the #ReuniteUS project and the book Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home. Through this work, Maryam elevated the voices of deported individuals to help them advocate for the opportunity to be reunited with their families. Her efforts reached wide audiences through media coverage, public events, and direct policy advocacy, ensuring that their stories are heard in both public discourse and policymaking circles.

Beyond her organizing and research, Maryam is a fierce advocate for language justice in the immigration system. As a freelance interpreter and translator, she helps bridge communication gaps for Fulani-speaking individuals seeking asylum in the United States, ensuring they can fully and accurately articulate their claims during immigration proceedings. She has spoken out forcefully about systemic language barriers in U.S. immigration courts, documenting cases where the use of incorrect dialects led to unjust and life-altering judicial decisions.

A devoted community leader, Maryam and her family serve as an informal welcoming committee for newly-arrived African immigrants in Cleveland, offering housing, meals, and personal support to help newcomers establish themselves and thrive in the U.S.

In 2025, Maryam was one of the Winners of the 2025 Women’s Community Catalyst Award from We Are All Us.org, in recognition of her tireless commitment to justice, equity, and community empowerment. Maryam Sy continues to fight for equal protections, language access, and the right to dignity and belonging for all immigrants.