A Rohingya woman, born and raised in Malaysia, made the difficult decision to move to the US in pursuit of a better future for her children.

Amirah Anisah Samad, 35, had spent more than three decades living in Malaysia. Born in Kelantan, she relocated to Penang at 17 and worked as an interpreter for seven years, according to Harian Metro.

One day, her daughter asked, "Mum, why can't we study here in Malaysia? What's wrong with us? Can we achieve our dreams?" This question inspired Amirah to seek opportunities in Chicago, US.

She now lives in Illinois with her husband and four children, aged 11 to 17.

Speaking to Harian Metro, Amirah shared her mixed emotions about leaving Malaysia, a place filled with fond childhood memories.

"Alhamdulillah, life in Malaysia was wonderful because it's peaceful. The neighbours were kind, and I could move around freely. Finding housing and food wasn't difficult. But I couldn’t pursue education or enjoy privileges due to my status as a refugee and UNHCR cardholder. I respect Malaysia's laws and understand the situation," she explained.

In 2013, Amirah and her family applied for resettlement in a third country. After going through interviews with the UNHCR and US immigration authorities, completing health screenings, and orientation courses, their application was finally approved in 2016.

They arrived in the US just over a month ago, receiving a warm welcome from local residents.

"Before moving here, we thought about many things, especially living in a non-Muslim majority country, unlike Malaysia. But Alhamdulillah, we were warmly welcomed. Twelve people greeted us with signs and flowers as soon as we arrived," she recounted.

Amirah's migration journey went viral on TikTok, where she documented her experiences. One of her videos, posted on 29 April, has gained over 339,000 views.

On 17 May, she expressed gratitude on TikTok as her children began their first day at public schools in the US. She also shared videos of her neighbourhood and her adventures in Chicago, receiving well-wishes from viewers happy to see her settling into her new life.

Watch here:

@amiraanesa22 Membalas kepada @annur_mina Allhamdulillah🤲 kami sgt terharu hari pertama kami sampai ke usa..mereka sediakan rumah yg sgt indah bagi aku dn keluarga,🥰#tqmalaysia🇲🇾 #tqUSA🇺🇲 #rindumalaysia🇲🇾 #Rohingyarefugees #humanity #fypシ゚viral ♬ ANIQ MUHAI QASIDAH BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN - Ustaz Adnin