"I wish strong hearts for all those that are forced to escape their homes, to not lose their path when facing hardships. The hardest stones are formed in the high heat of volcanoes." -Parwana Amiri, young writer and refugee

When I talk to high school students about migration, their indignation and frustration about governments is clear. Hearing individual stories helps them understand what's behind the numbers we hear on the news. We should all do this, all the time: remember that every number is a person. Borders kill

These are the stories of people on the move. They risk everything they have for what they believe in. His goal was democracy in his country. The repressive answer was violence and his only way out was flight. We should empower these people instead of deporting them.

He had lived under his deceased sibling's name for years in order to escape his country after being persecuted by the authorities for being part of a student movement for democracy. He left everything behind - his wife and baby, his home, his life - to seek protection for himself and his loved ones.

"I'm deeply ashamed and sorry for lying to you. Lying has been essential to my survival for years. Now I'm afraid of telling the truth."

Someone came to me in tears after an asylum briefing I had given. He told me that he had lied about his name and age when we first met.

I stand with everyone who fights fascist regimes: by protesting, writing, researching, staying, leaving, surviving, hiding, helping... THANK YOU for your courage to take these dangerous risks in the name of humanity.

I am in constant awe of the resilience of people on the move.