While Taqwa’s family’s migration story altered their life trajectory, she recognizes that for many, being an immigrant in the U.S. is an experience that can be marked by fear, anxiety, and stigma. Taqwa was compelled to work with refugees and immigrants through direct services while attending The University of California Berkeley School of Law, “in an effort to combat the existing structural barriers.” Taqwa is placed as an IJC Justice Fellow at Capital Area Immigrants’ Right (CAIR) Coalition in Washington D.C. where she works with the Coalition’s detained adult program, representing adult immigrants in Maryland and Virginia who are either new arrivals in pursuit of protection and safety, or long-term residents of the U.S. with deep ties to local communities.
