Signs in hand, demonstrators on both sides of the abortion debate marched Saturday at Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas.

Spearheaded by pro-choice activists, a group gathered for the “Defend Planned Parenthood” march, a peaceful demonstration that made its way from Moonlight State Beach down Pacific Coast Highway to K Street, then back to the beach via Third Street.

Encinitas resident Karen Abrams was among the many demonstrators fighting for Planned Parenthood. She was there with her family and friends and told NBC 7 the event was peaceful and positive. Abrams said the march was organized by two young women but attended by men, women and children of all ages.

"It gives me hope for the future," Abrams told NBC 7.

At the march, many people shared stories of how Planned Parenthood has helped them -- in some cases even saving their lives with their services.

"It gave me the chills," Abrams added.

“HPV screenings, mammograms, birth control: There are so many services Planned Parenthood offers. It would really be a hit to women’s health,” demonstrator Alyssa Martindale said.

Martindale said she credits Planned Parenthood with helping to decrease the number of abortions.

“We actually have the lowest abortion rates since Roe v. Wade because so many women have access to safe birth control,” she said.

Oceanside resident Carmen Cook participated in the march with his entire family: his grandchildren, wife and children. He said it was difficult not to be impacted by the stories of women who have counted on Planned Parenthood for help over the years.

"The work Planned Parenthood does is so important," he said, adding that the organization does much more than just provide abortion services.

The march was also attended by some pro-life activists; with megaphones in hand, some voiced their opinions in support of President Donald Trump's stance on the hot-button topic.

Last month, Trump banned U.S. funding to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about the procedure.

The decision was met with both support from those on the pro-life side, as well as resistance from those on the pro-choice side.

The march in San Diego’s North County was one of many happening Saturday around the country.

Nationwide, anti-abortion activists planned to rally around President Trump’s call for the federal government to cut off payments to Planned Parenthood. However, in some cities, counter-protests dwarfed the demonstrations.

Hollywood actor Gary Sinise, a longtime supporter of U.S. military veterans and their families, visited San Diego Saturday to put on a show with his band, the Lt. Dan Band.

Sinise, who runs The Gary Sinise Foundation, dropped into Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) for his organization's 5th annual Invincible Spirit Festival, an event that aims to show appreciation for veterans and their families, and the sacrifices they've made.

The fest included food created by celebrity chef Robert Irvine, special prize giveaways, face painting for kids and an eclectic car show.

The headliner was a performance by Sinise's band, whose namesake is inspired by the actor's iconic role as wounded U.S. military veteran Lt. Dan in the film, "Forrest Gump."

The Invincible Spirit Festivals are one of the many causes organized by the Gary Sinise Foundation to honor the organization's mission to support veterans and their families.

“I’m inspired each and every day by the men and women who serve our country,” Sinse told NBC 7 on Saturday. “This is a full time thing for me — I started the foundation so that we could be an effective resource for our fellow citizens, too, who want to support the military.”

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The advocate for veterans also makes sure that those working for his foundation can relate to the men and women they help support.

Ambassador to the Gary Sinise Foundation and retired U.S. Marine Core Colonel Jay Vargas understands the importance of having veterans who served in the military work for the foundation. Col. Vargas helps counsel and provides resources for families and vets on suicide prevention measures, and understands the struggle of having PTSD.

“The troops like that. They like to hear from somebody who’s been through it,” he tells NBC 7.

For the staff that work at NMCSD, this event reminds them of how important the work is that they do on a daily basis.

"[It] feels like we are supported," NMCSD staffer Teresa Miller said. "I think that a lot of people are under the impression that warriors are not getting wounded. We still have people out on the front lines and they are still getting wounded, and that’s our job to take care of them. We’re excited to see people coming out and supporting our troops.”

Fellow employee Natasha Wooden shares the same passion for helping those recovering at NMCSD.

“Every day I wake up and I’m excited to come here to work. I know that the patients are going to be here waiting and we’re here to help them get better and continuing the legacy of what we do here as military and civilian employees.”

For Chief Petty Officer Larry Deleon, the sense of community that the Invincible Spirit Fest invokes reminds him of the importance of helping those who strengthen this community.

“As a fellow active duty, we’re here to help out each other -- retirees, and veterans. It puts a little notch in your heat knowing that everybody is here for the cause, taking care of everybody,” he said.

“Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” – Alfred Pennyworth, Batman Begins

The Chargers left San Diego for Los Angeles, a gut punch to the San Diego sports fan base. But on Saturday that fan base started getting back up.

More than 12,000 people filled Petco Park for Celebrate San Diego, a rally of sorts to show people in America’s Finest City what they still have to root for … and what Dean Spanos left behind. The Padres organized the event, inviting all the local professional teams and universities to attend, and all that were there agreed with the words of SDSU head basketball coach Steve Fisher:

“I’m amazed at the turnout but not surprised.”

People who know San Diego sports fans understand how good they have it here.

“This is exactly what we do,” said former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman. “Believe in San Diego. This is a great city. It’s a great sports city. I would bet that we’ll have something (another professional sports franchise) come back in time but let’s concentrate on what we have here. There are a lot of great opportunities to support some great organizations.”

“I think the town’s a great town,” said Aztecs head football coach Rocky Long. “It’s young, it’s energetic, there’s a lot of diversity and they all get along well. This is about celebrating the sports programs that we have from Little League all the way up through the pros.”

Like the San Diego Gulls, the top affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. The Gulls are 3rd in the American Hockey League in attendance this season and have rewarded fans by winning 12 of their last 14 games. Head coach Dallas Eakins is impressed with what he’s seen from the San Diego fan base.

“It’s a highly passionate base that is very patient and waiting for the winners to arrive,” said Eakins. “The fans here really deserve that. As you can see today they’re out supporting just sport. I was not sure what I was getting myself in to coming down here but it has been absolutely incredible how inspiring it’s been and we’re trying to throw some inspiration back.”

When San Diego has a winner there are very few places that can rival its passion and pure noise. The Celebrate San Diego event was what the Padres hope was an appetizer for what fans can expect when its young crop of prospects matures in the next few years.

“There’s not going to be a better place in baseball in due time,” said Padres manager Andy Green. “This will be the best place to watch a baseball game. It already is from at atmosphere perspective. When we match that with the product on the baseball field and we start competing to win championships here it’s going to be unparalleled in the game because there were games last year when you stood on the top step (of the dugout) and looked out and thought, Is this for real? Because the place can get as loud as any place in baseball.”

A turnout this large on a drizzly day shows the power of the San Diego fan base. So could it be something that helps the city bring in more professional sports franchises? NBC 7 SportsWrap spoke with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer about MLS, the NFL and how Mission Valley should be redeveloped now that it’s available:

San Diego may be down now but if the MLS comes and the NFL follows and the Padres field a winner … all three possibilities … America’s Finest City will rise again.

The House of France at Balboa Park’s International Cottages will open for several hours Sunday to 25 Syrian refugee students living in San Diego.

The students, who are all eight to 12 years old, will play games and enjoy French pastries donated by Bread &Cie. and the Carlsbad French Pastry Café.

The event is in cooperation with the Arab Youth Collective, a nonprofit that provides support for Syrian refugees in San Diego.

The event lasts from 2 to 4 p.m.

Dozens of home-sweeps targeting undocumented immigrants across the country have sparked a wave of panic here in San Diego.

Local churches are preparing for the worst and are offering refuge to those seeking it. Pastor Bill Jenkins says his doors are wide open. He has helped refugee men and women in the past at the United Methodist Church in Normal Heights. “I get calls all the time of people who are particularly women and children,” said Pastor Jenkins.

He's talking about the coordinated sweeps that have deported hundreds of undocumented immigrants across the country since President Donald Trump signed an executive order to enforce the country's immigration laws.

Immigration officials say the enforcement actions are nothing new. President Trump's executive order states the Secretary of Homeland Security will prioritize the deportation of people who have been convicted or charged with any criminal offense. Others, who have participated in something that can potentially be chargeable, can also be detained. According to President Trump's executive order, ICE and border patrol agents have the right to detain a person if they feel that person is a risk to public safety or national security.

During Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly's visit to San Diego Friday, he addressed the issue. “These folks are executing the law,” said Secretary Kelly.

He went on a ride along with ICE agents on what immigration officials call a knock-and-talk. “At 6 a.m. we went to a house, knocked on the door and took a particular bad individual into custody.”

Secretary Kelly went on to detail, “What I saw today, the professionalism that I observed in a very potentially dangerous environment gave me great pride.”

Pastor Jenkins said he is ready to make his church a sanctuary and will continue to offer information on legal services to those seeking it. “What we want to do is to try to give hope and love,” said Jenkins.

Crews are responding to a two-alarm fire at a warehouse in the 500 block of Hale Avenue, according to Escondido police. The fire started around 10:30 p.m. Saturday evening.

There is an imminent threat of roof collapse, according to officials. 

No other information was available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news.

Three people were found shot in a home in Skyline Saturday afternoon, San Diego police confirm. NBC 7’s Alex Presha reports.

After a federal appeals court upheld a lower court judge's decision to freeze the Trump administration's travel ban from seven countries, White House Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller said Sunday that officials are considering all of their options to put the ban back in place, NBC News reported.

That could mean an appeal of the 9th Circuit Court decision, additional executive actions, or other options, Miller said. The adviser played a key role in drafting the controversial order.

The administration is "pursuing every single possible action to keep our country safe from terrorism," he said, adding that he knows every branch of government is equal but there's "no such thing as judicial supremacy."

A bizarre scene aboard a United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco International Airport on Saturday evening showcased a pilot dressed in street clothes ranting about politics and her personal life before breaking into tears, according to passengers.

United Airlines Flight 455 was parked at Austin-Bergstom International Airport when the pilot took control of the intercom and began discussing her divorce and firing off about the recent election, according to Randy Reiss, a passenger on the airplane.

Reiss, who tweeted that he felt unsafe and uncomfortable during that point of the rant, proceeded to storm off of the plane. About half of the other passengers followed suit, passenger Sylvia Nguessan said.

Nguessan added that the pilot was originally agitated when she began her speech before being overcome by tears.

United Airlines confirmed that the pilot was removed the airplane when it issued a statement regarding the ordeal.

"We hold our employees to the highest standards and replaced this pilot with a new one to operate the flight," the statement read in part. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience."

Reiss, while waiting in the airport for his flight to depart, eventually ran into the pilot. He said that she was crying and that she apologized for her actions. Reiss said he wished her well, and he later issued a statement backing up that hope.

"Being a pilot is a tough and stressful job," the statement read. "This particular pilot did not seem emotionally equipped to do that job today. I hope she gets the help she probably needs."

Nguessan echoed a similar sentiment.

"It was sad and by the end (the pilot) was in tears," she said. "I talked to her and hugged her because she was having a nervous breakdown."

Flight 455 eventually departed from Austin roughly two hours late, United Airlines said in a statement.

Singer and jazz legend Al Jarreau died Sunday in Los Angeles, just days after retiring from touring, his manager told Ebony magazine. He was 76.

The singer was surrounded by family and friends when he died at 5:30 a.m.

A small, private service is planned, said his manager, Joe Gordon.

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"His second priority in life was music. There was no third. His first priority, far ahead of the other, was healing or comforting anyone in need," his website read, confirming the news of his passing.

Jarreau was reportedly forced into retirement due to exhaustion. He was hospitalized in Los Angeles and then cared for by a medical team in the days leading up to his death, according to the Associated Press.

His site concluded, reading: "Thank you Al, from all of us. You completed your ministry in a beautiful and gracious way. Godspeed… you’ve earned it."

A man brandishing a hatchet was arrested Saturday after he robbed a T.J. Maxx and attempted to rob a CVS store, San Diego Police (SDPD) said. 

Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Daniel Martinez of San Diego.

According to police, Martinez stole merchandise from the T.J. Maxx store in Clairemont Square using a hatchet. He then fled on a bicycle to a nearby CVS store.

Witnesses directed officers to the CVS store, where Martinez was attempting to shoplift items, police said. Before he could shoftlift, officers arrested Martinez without incident.

The T.J. Maxx merchandise was recovered from the suspect.

Interstate 15 morning commuters will see three southbound lanes and one northbound lane open in the Express Lane beginning Monday.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced the lane shifts “will provide congestion relief for rush-hour commuters.”

According to Caltrans, it takes approximately two hours to adjust the Express Lane barriers. Those changes will take place between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

The three southbound lanes will be open Monday through Thursday, typically 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. After that the Express Lanes will return to the two northbound and southbound lanes, around 12:30 p.m.

Caltrans said vehicles can still use the Express Lanes while they are being shifted.

The I-15 Corridor management Team, a partnership with Caltrans, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), analyzed traffic flow during peak commute times to come up with the changes. The data gathered showed no operational benefit for afternoon commuters.

Authorities are searching for a baby Gray Whale that swam into the San Diego Bay Sunday morning, hoping to create a safe zone to protect it from boats in the area. 

The U.S. Coast Guard began searching after an initial report at approximately 8:15 a.m. of a young gray whale entering the bay. 

The Coast Guard contacted National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and has a boat out looking for the whale. If they find the whale, they would create a safety zone to keep high speed vessels out of the area directly surrounding it. 

It is unclear what part of the bay the whale may be in. 

Coast Guard officials were told Gray Whales commonly pass through the region this time of year. 

In rallies across cross coal country, Donald Trump made a big, crowd-pleasing promise: He'd bring back the mining jobs, NBC News reported.

"We're gonna open the mines," he said to big cheers in Charleston, West Virginia, as if the shuttered coal mines across eastern America's coal country could hit a switch and reinstate the jobs once he won the White House.

But experts say despite Trump's election, those jobs aren't coming back.

While regulation sped the shuttering of older coal mines in the last decade, experts say it was natural gas that turned the screws on the industry. Cleaner and cheaper, the natural gas market share is growing rapidly and putting as much — if not more — pressure on the coal industry as regulations.

Authorities have closed the San Ysidro Port of Entry for the sixth straight weekend in a row, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials confirm. 

It is unclear whether the entry point was closed due to protests in Mexico, as it had been for the previous five weekends.

The soutbound lanes into Mexico will be closed. CalTrans announced road closures in the area, including westbound State Route 905 to southbound Interstate 805, and westbound SR 905 to southbound Interstate 5.

Protesters continue to voice their objections to a sudden hike in gas prices in Mexico: 20 percent in one day, as well as recent executive actions signed by President Trump regarding border security.

A motorcycle involved in an apparent argument with a driver on State Route 163 took off when police arrived on scene, crashing nearby, according to San Diego Police (SDPD) officers. 

The incident happened on the eastbound Interstate 8 connector to northbound SR-163 in Mission Valley, police said. 

A man on a motorcycle, who has not yet been identified, thought he had been cut off by another driver and started an argument, police said. The motorcyclist told the driver he had a gun. 

The driver flagged down a police officer, police said. When officers pulled up, the motorcyclist took off and crashed nearby. 

He suffered unknown injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. 

The motorcyclist will face charges for felony evasion. It is unclear whether he will be arrested or booked; the decision will be made dependent on the extent of his injuries. 

Authorites are responding to a report of a plane down in Ramona, north of San Diego.

The incident happened Sunday afternoon near the 19100 block of Horizon View Drive, according to San Diego County Sheriff's officials and Cal Fire officials. 

Units are heading to the scene. Cal Fire officials said they will search the area to confirm the report, though the area is rugged so it may take a while. 

No other information is available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news.

Here’s a look at what is going on in San Diego sports for the week of February 13^th-19^th.

PADRES:  Baseball is almost here! Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training Tuesday. Friday the rest of the team heads to Peoria.

GULLS: It’s another busy week for the Gulls. Tuesday they host the Iowa Wild 7:00 p.m. at the Valley View Casino Center. It’s Singles Night and Taco Tuesday. Friday they’re in Bakersfield before heading back to the nest Saturday to host the Tucson Roadrunners at 7:00 p.m.

SOCKERS: Thursday the Sockers host the El Paso Coyotes 7:35 p.m. at the Valley View Casino Center.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TOREROS:

-MEN’S GOLF: Monday and Tuesday PRO Compression Invitational all day at The Farms GC in Rancho Santa Fe.

-WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Wednesday-Saturday at the MPSF Championships in Los Angeles.

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday vs. BYU 6 p.m. and Saturday vs. Santa Clara 2 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday at BYU 8:00 p.m. in Provo, Utah and Saturday at Santa Clara 8:00 p.m.

-SOFTBALL: Friday vs. Utah Valley 12:30 p.m. and Kent State 8:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Arkansas 5 p.m. and Cal Poly 7:30 p.m. and Sunday vs. California 11:30 a.m. all in Cathedral City, California.

-BASEBALL: Friday and Saturday vs. Vanderbilt 6:00 p.m. Sunday vs. Vanderbilt 1:00 p.m. all at Fowler Park.

-WOMEN’S ROWING: Saturday scrimmage with UCSB, SDSU and OCC in Mission Bay all day.

-MEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. UNC Wilmington 1 p.m.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AZTECS:

-WOMEN’S GOLF: Monday and Tuesday at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Wednesday at Utah State 7:00 p.m. and Sunday vs. UNLV 1 p.m. at Viejas Arena.

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Wednesday vs. Utah State 6:30 p.m. at Viejas Arena and Saturday at UNLV 4 p.m.

-WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Wednesday-Saturday at the Mountain West Championships in College Station, Texas.

-SOFTBALL: Thursday vs. Washington 6 p.m., Friday vs. Rutgers 4:30 p.m. and Ohio 7 p.m. and Sunday vs UC Riverside 2 p.m. all at SDSU Softball Stadium.

-BASEBALL: Friday vs. Pacific 6 p.m., Sunday vs. Pacific 1 p.m. and Sunday vs. Pacific 1 p.m. all at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Friday vs. Long Beach State 2 p.m. at the Aztec Tennis Center.

-WOMEN’S ROWING: Saturday vs. OCC/UCSD, USD Scrimmage 7 a.m.

-WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Saturday vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps scrimmage 2 p.m. at the Aztec Lacrosse Field.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO TRITONS:

-MEN’S GOLF: Monday and Tuesday at the Cactus Thaw Invitational in Stockton 8 a.m.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Wednesday vs. Point Loma 2 p.m. and Saturday vs. Stanislaus State 11 a.m. both at UCSD.

-MEN’S TENNIS: Friday-Sunday at the Hawaii Invitational at Kona, HI.

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Friday vs. Cal Poly Pomona 5:30 p.m. at UCSD.

-BASEBALL: Friday vs. Western Oregon 6 p.m., Saturday vs. Western Oregon 1 p.m. and Sunday vs. Western Oregon 12 p.m. all at UCSD.

-MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Friday at BYU 6 p.m. and Saturday at BYU 5 p.m.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Friday vs. Cal Poly Pomona 7:30 p.m. and Saturday vs. Humboldt State 7:30 p.m. both at UCSD.

-TRACK AND FIELD: Saturday at the Pomona-Pitzer Collegiate All Comers in Claremont 9 a.m.

-WOMEN’S WATER POLO: Saturday vs. California Baptist 12 p.m.

-SOFTBALL: Saturday vs. Azusa Pacific 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday vs. Adelphi 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. all at UCSD.

-BASEBALL: Saturday vs. Western Oregon 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday vs. Western Oregon 12 p.m. all at UCSD.

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS:

-WOMEN’S GOLF: Monday and Tuesday at the Cal Baptist Women’s Invitational in Riverside 8 a.m.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Monday at BYU-Hawaii 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at California Baptist 8 p.m.

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Monday at BYU-Hawaii 7 p.m. and Saturday at California Baptist 5 p.m.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Wednesday at Concordia 2 p.m. and Friday vs. Western New Mexico 11 a.m.

-MEN’S TENNIS: Wednesday at Concordia 2 p.m. and Friday vs. Western New Mexico 2 p.m.

-TRACK: Saturday at the Mangrum Invitational/CSU San Marcos 10 a.m.

Evacuations have been ordered for low levels of Oroville, California, and several areas downstream from Lake Oroville because of erosion on the Oroville Dam's auxiliary spillway, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

The main spillway of the dam, the nation's tallest, was damaged in storms this week.

The sheriff's office posted the following on its Facebook page, emphasizing that it was not a drill:

"A hazardous situation is developing with the Oroville Dam auxiliary spillway. Operation of the auxiliary spillway has led to severe erosion that could lead to a failure of the structure. Failure of the auxiliary spillway structure will result in an uncontrolled release of flood waters from Lake Oroville.

"In response to this developing situation, DWR (Department of Water Resources) is increasing water releases to 100,000 cubic feet per second.

"Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered."

State water officials said just after 5 p.m. that the auxiliary spillway could fail within the hour. The potential impact would be all the way to Marysville–Yuba City and Beale Air Force Base, they said.

The sheriff's office said residents of Oroville, a town of 16,000 people, should head north toward Chico and that other cities should follow orders from their local law enforcement agencies, according to The Associated Press.

DWR officials said later Sunday they plan on deploying helicopters to drop large rocks into a gouge in the auxiliary spillway to stabilize it.

A list of evacuation shelters, animal shelters and school closures can be found on the Butte County website.

Water began flowing over the emergency spillway at the Oroville Dam in Northern California on Saturday for the first time in its nearly 50-year history after heavy rainfall.

Unexpected erosion chewed through the main spillway earlier in the week, sending chunks of concrete flying and creating a 200-foot-long, 30-foot-deep hole that continues growing. Engineers don't know what caused the cave-in, but Chris Orrock, a spokesman for the state Department of Water Resources, said it appears the dam's main spillway has stopped crumbling even though it's being used for water releases.

Department of Water Resources spokesman Eric See said earlier Sunday that skies were clear, and the overflow was steadily slowing. It was expected to stop by midday Monday.

To watch Osama Abdulazez play soccer with his friends in El Cajon you wouldn’t guess what they’ve been through.

“Terrorists go after everybody and my dad was threatened,” the 14-year-old tells NBC 7.

He and his family fled their home in Baghdad because of those threats.

Abdulazez plays soccer every week with other refugee children, but his family in Iraq is never far from his mind.

“I remember I was saying bye to all my cousins and all my uncles, that was a really sad moment, because imagine leaving everyone you love and everyone you know behind,” Abdulazez remembers.

Many of the kids are from Iraq, but others come from similarly war-torn countries like Syria and Somalia. The soccer games are organized by the local nonprofit Yalla (Youth and Leaders Living Actively). Yalla organizes the games to help the children succeed and assimilate in their new home.

Many of the children still communicate with their families who live in war zones, and although they know their families are still in danger, programs like Yalla’s help them get away from the stresses of day to day life.

“Our main focus is to move them quickly from survival mode into thriving mode,” says Sarah Cooper, executive director of Yalla. The nonprofit combines soccer with specialized tutoring to teach the kids English and other necessary skills to succeed in school.

“These kids are going on to four year schools,” Cooper says. “They’re going to come out as professionals. They're going to pay a lot of taxes.”

Like the rest of these children of war, Abdulazez hopes to live a long and successful life in his new American home.

“Programs like Yalla help you not just in soccer, in school, in life basically,” Cooper says.

A world away from what they know, a familiar sport is helping these children make goals for the next chapter in their lives.