A.M.

What is being an undocumented immigrant like for you?  

“Being undocumented feels like always holding your breath, you are always on edge. Even when you are safe, you know that isn’t a reality for you... We lived in a tight-knit Pakistani community in Staten Island... There was always law enforcement surrounding us. Staten Island was across the water from Manhattan and after 9/11 surveillance of Muslims was very common (still is).”

What does justice and safety look like to you?

“To me a justice society is one that people feel safe in and trust their environment. When I say trust, I mean they know that if they didn’t do anything they will not be targeted. If someone does something bad, they will not go free. However, also for those that do something wrong prison is not the answer, there needs to be social services and other services in place instead of prisons.”

“Safety for my community looks like having access to resources equally across the spectrum. Safety for my family looks like not being scared to do normal things: not being scared to drive, travel, not being scared that one wrong turn could put us in danger; being able to return home where you are fleeing from and feeling secure in life.”

Winnie the Pooh is really calming to look at for the interviewee. The characters in the show each represent a mental health disorder, so looking at Pooh reminds me of the impact of immigration on my mental health.