S4 E01: Soo Jin Lee’s mom never told her she was undocumented, but she just knew. Also: therapy isn’t the only way to heal.

GUEST BIO

Soo Jin Lee is a licensed therapist, the author of 'Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity,' and a guiding force at the Yellow Chair Collective. Her journey from an undocumented immigrant to a mental health advocate shapes her unique approach to healing. When not writing or in session, she’s reconnecting with nature on a hike. Let’s dive into her story!.

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DEFINITIONS

• DREAM act:short for The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, is a United States legislative proposal to grant temporary conditional residency, with the right to work, to illegal immigrants who entered the United States as minors—and, if they later satisfy further qualifications, they would attain permanent residency. It was first introduced in 2001 and has been reintroduced multiple times since, but has never gotten majority votes from either house of the U.S. congress.
• In 2012, President Obama signed an executive branch memorandum called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, DACA for short, which provided a temporary reprieve from deportation to qualified unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. In 2017, the Trump administration announced the program's termination.

MENTIONED

"Where I Belong: Healing Trauma & Embracing Asian American Identity"

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TAKEAWAYS

1. Undocumented migrants take great risks to come here because they believe in the American dream so much, but often have no chance of getting a work visa if they are poor or uneducated. People will do anything if it means a better future for their kids.
2. Undocumented migrants are often very self-conscious about their status and eager to prove they are hard working, and self-sufficient. They are diligent about paying their taxes and steer clear of anything resembling government aid. Many, like Soo Jin's father, even create businesses that employ Americans. This is not the portrayal we see in the news very often, but it is an important one.
3. Undocumented migrants can be smart professionals, they can be Asian, they can be entrepreneurs and employers. They aren't a monolith.
4. Mental health and wellness can and should look different depending on who you are and what you value. Especially for our elders, healing can come from sharing memories, teaching the next generation their family recipes or their favorite games, instead of going to therapy and talking about their traumas.

CONTACT

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Host: Lazou

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