The objects immigrants hold dear

This photo series explores the emotional weight of the items immigrants carry with them to America

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Anmol Sanyasi, 14, brought a traditional combat knife when he and his family, refugees from Nepal, resettled in the U.S. in 2009.
(Image credit: Aug. 20, 2015)

Marisa Rummell, who was born in Mexico but grew up in the United States, has kept her grandmother's 105-year-old hand embroidered handkerchief.
(Image credit: Sept. 21, 2015)

Lourdes Reira, originally from Honduras, crossed the Rio Grande River carrying the photographs of her children.
(Image credit: Aug. 19, 2015)

Krishna Vavilala, 78, brought his father-in-law's Ph.D dissertation from India as a reminder of how much the family values education.
(Image credit: Sept. 15, 2015)

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.