One day of working in an immigration detention center, I was a chaperone for one of the female appointments. After the doctor had finished the initial physical and left the room to pick up medication, the female turned to ask me, “When will I be able to talk to ICE and make a phone call to my friend?
She was a Nigerian woman with a few kids, probably in her late 30’s-early 40’s. She had just arrived in the facility the night before and hadn’t been in contact with anyone since her arrival.
“I’m supposed to be meeting up with one of my girl friends; she’s flying in from New York and we were supposed to meet yesterday after my flight. We were supposed to be traveling together to one of our old friends’ wedding. The friend I was supposed to be meeting up with doesn’t know where I am and I haven’t been able to get in contact with her, so she’s probably freaking out because the wedding is tomorrow. And I’m here. With no idea of how I can contact any of my family or friends to let them know I’m safe or where I am.”
I had no idea what to say.