Ask Me No Questions

Aisha and Nadira decide to visit Mr. Rashid, a lawyer they believe can help them. After seeing Mr. Rashid on a television show, Aisha contacted him and persuaded him to take their case.

In Mr. Rashid’s office, the sisters explain their situation: Their father’s detention is not only a personal crisis but also a barrier to Aisha’s college education. They describe the risk Abba took applying for asylum in Canada, which nullified his US application. Abba’s subsequent arrest while attempting to re-enter America with an expired visa complicates their situation further. Mr. Rashid listens but warns them that resolving their situation will be a lengthy and complex process. The reality of their legal situation overwhelms Aisha. She reacts with anger and frustration, running out of the office. Outside, Aisha confesses her fears to Nadira, particularly for their father’s well-being, and Nadira sits close to her on the train home.

After school, Nadira and Aisha visit Dunkin’ Donuts, where Aisha uses her friend Risa’s phone to call the detention center in an attempt to speak with an INS officer. However, she encounters bureaucratic delays and evasions, leaving them without clear answers.