Ask Me No Questions

Nadira’s interaction with the stranger who shares his story of separation from his ill mother initially stirs anxiety in her. However, in hearing his story, she gains insight into her own family’s fragmentation, seeing a reflection of her experiences in him. The episode suggests that US culture tends to strain family bonds even in the absence of the kinds of challenges the Hossains face; it therefore contextualizes The Impact of Immigration Policies on Families within a broader disregard for human value and connection. When Nadira struggles to recognize Abba at the hearing, it both illustrates the toll of his detainment and underscores this message about the immigration system and US society writ large: Abba and Nadira have become like strangers to one another.

Aisha’s character arc also demonstrates the harmful consequences of US immigration policy; when Aisha destroys her college letters, it signifies her despair and loss of hope. However, her actions contrast with Nadira’s growing agency. When Nadira runs to Ali Uncle’s store seeking solace only to find that he too has left, she confronts the realities of their situation. This realization propels her further into a role of leadership and advocacy within her family.

Nadira’s initiative during the hearing showcases Nadira’s transformation from a passive observer to an active force fighting for her family, underscoring The Resilience and Adaptability of Young Immigrants. Besides representing Nadira’s increasing assertiveness, the spelling mistake she points out also illustrates The Struggle for Identity and Belonging in a New Country. The government’s conflation of two different names reveals the racial and cultural biases that underpin the US legal system. The Hossains’ “foreign” name makes it easy for the government to mistake them for a threat, just as their ethnicity and religion broadly make them subject to suspicion. Nadira’s correction is a symbolic assertion of the value of her family’s identity that anticipates Aisha’s graduation speech.

In fact, it is thanks to Nadira that Aisha gives the speech she does, as Nadira’s playground speech testifies to her belief that hiding is no longer an option. Aisha’s high school graduation marks the novel’s climax, bringing together the immediate family as well as the reporter who has been chronicling their journey. This media presence adds a layer of public scrutiny to their private struggles, marking a departure from their survival tactic of concealment and foreshadowing Aisha’s declaration of her identity: “My name is Aisha Hossain, and I am an illegal alien” (150). This is an act of self-affirmation as well as defiance, but the novel does not suggest that her embrace of who she is resolves all of the many problems the family faces. For one, Ma’s choice to wear a Western-style dress instead of traditional Bangladeshi attire for the court appearance signals the pressure to assimilate—another kind of invisibility—that the family continues to face. Moreover, the absence of Auntie and Uncle reflects ongoing tensions within the family. Confronted with the realities of life in the US, each family member grapples with their own sense of belonging and visions for the future, and this sometimes results in separations—e.g., Taslima’s decision to remain in America even as her parents depart.

Nevertheless, the final moments of the novel signify a crucial victory: The judge allows a new residency application, offering the family hope and a pathway to stability. The items Aisha packs in her bag—papers for the appeal, an address of a relative’s friend, directions to Toronto, and university folders—underscore the day’s seriousness. These items represent the family’s preparedness for all possible outcomes: either gaining residency in the US or facing deportation in 30 days. Even before the judge’s verdict, the novel’s conclusion therefore testifies to the resilience and perseverance of immigrant families who seek home in a foreign land.