Therapy for Black Girls – Session 427: Immigration Justice
Host: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Guest: Katherine Laberon, writer, organizer, and research manager
Date: September 3, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode addresses the intensifying crisis of deportations in the United States, focusing on the disproportionate impact on Black migrants and their families. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford welcomes Katherine Laberon, a writer and activist whose work lies at the intersection of immigration justice, Black liberation, and mental health. Together, they unpack the emotional toll of migration, the unique challenges facing Black immigrants, the resilience and healing found in art and community, and practical strategies for safety, advocacy, and mental health support.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Katherine’s Background and Role of Art in Activism
- Katherine shares her Nigerian-American heritage, upbringing in London, and early experiences witnessing discrimination against immigrants.
- Poetry became a primary healing tool and a method for making sense of injustice.
- “Poetry was this alchemizing force for me to be able to heal and make sense of my suffering. And I wanted to accompany other young black girls in doing the same…” — Katherine [06:02]
- Her current work focuses on archiving Black migrant stories and building intergenerational resilience through art, activism, and research.
2. Intersectionality and the Emotional Toll of Migration
- No “typical day” in her advocacy work due to the constantly shifting sociopolitical climate for migrants.
- Migrants, even as children, are impacted by fear, lack of cultural expression, discrimination, and hypervigilance.
- “Your body is always in this state of fight or flight…even when you are just scrolling on your phone or looking at the news…” — Katherine [10:28]
3. Community Support and Barriers
- Support often comes from community organizations, but not all Black migrants have established networks in the U.S.
- Commonly cited barriers: cost of therapy, language barriers, fear of ICE even in traditionally safe spaces like churches or mosques.
- Mutual aid funds, legal “know your rights” trainings, and advocacy organizations offer tangible support.
- Notable organizations: Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Haitian Bridge Alliance, African Communities Together, UndocuBlack.
4. Erasure of Black Migrants in National Immigration Discourse
- The misconception that immigration issues only affect Latinx communities erases Black migrant narratives.
- This leads to lack of resources, support, and language accessibility for Black migrants.
- “It’s centered on anti-Blackness…when we think about the languages that resources are translated to, it’s rarely translated into African and Caribbean languages…” — Katherine [17:40]
5. Data and Case Studies – Disproportionality in Enforcement
- Black migrants make up 5% of the undocumented population but 20% of those facing deportation due to criminal convictions.
- Black migrants are:
- Six times more likely to be in solitary confinement.
- Twice as likely to be abused in detention.
- Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians could leave 500,000 people at risk of deportation.
- Noteworthy case: Wani Dujast, detained after a traffic stop, with little information given to his partner.
- “His partner currently does not know where he is…there are concerns around food and air quality in the environment he’s in.” — Katherine [19:19]
6. Intersectional Vulnerabilities: Queer, Trans, and Women Migrants
- Black LGBTQIA+ migrants regularly flee persecution only to face compounded traumas in the U.S.
- Black migrant women experience higher rates of sexual and gender-based violence, poverty, lack of access to care, and domestic violence with few resources.
- “They’re more likely to experience health issues and biases in medical institutions due to language barriers…” — Katherine [22:49]
7. Practical Protections and Community Strategies
- “Know Your Rights” trainings and carrying physical cards outlining one’s rights (in multiple languages) are recommended.
- Build community safety plans—trusted networks to avoid reliance on police due to fear of ICE collaboration.
- Leverage mutual aid for essentials, like grocery delivery.
- “Some organizations are supporting people even just getting groceries delivered, because they’re fearful of going to supermarkets themselves.” — Katherine [24:28]
8. Legal Landscape and Ongoing Concerns
- Katherine anticipates greater criminalization, more police/ICE collaboration, and increased data privacy violations (e.g., sharing information with ICE).
9. Impact on Black Girls and Families
- Childhoods are disrupted by ongoing fear; normal developmental experiences are replaced by vigilance and anxiety.
- “There are parts of your childhood that become sacrificed...you’re forced into knowing more and trying to be in defense of the people that you care about.” — Katherine [27:17]
10. Safety and Advocacy for Allies and Providers
- Allies can amplify stories, join Court Watch programs, volunteer for detention hotlines, write to legislators, and organize community safety notifications.
- Practitioners can offer low-cost/free therapy and consider integrating holistic techniques (Reiki, astrology, spiritual traditions) as community mental healthcare.
11. Practical Technology Recommendations for Safer Communication
- Use encrypted platforms like Signal, with disappearing messages and minimal personal info.
- Turn off device tracking/location sharing during sensitive activities or convenings.
- “If they could hold off and share [their location] after, that will help protect the safety of people.” — Katherine [37:44]
12. A Message of Hope and Resistance
- Katherine ends with a message of belonging and encouragement, emphasizing continued community resistance and worth.
- “They belong. They belong. They belong. That they are inherently worthy, valuable, that we will continue to fight for them, will continue to organize for them, that they deserve community, they deserve care.” — Katherine [38:54]
Memorable Quotes
- On systemic erasure:
“It’s centered on anti-Blackness…leads to our invisibilization when it comes to resources and supports…” — Katherine [17:32] - On the emotional toll:
“Your body is always in this state of fight or flight…even…scrolling on your phone or looking at the news…” — Katherine [10:28] - On supporting youth:
“There are parts of your childhood that become sacrificed.” — Katherine [27:17] - On hope:
“They belong. They belong. They belong…We will continue to fight for them.” — Katherine [38:54] - On holistic support:
“People are just yearning for different forms of knowing and healing in this time. And I think it’s all important.” — Katherine [35:10]
Important Timestamps
- Katherine shares her origin story and the role of art: [05:27]
- Intersectionality in activism and day-to-day work: [06:49]
- Childhood discrimination and emotional toll: [09:16]
- Current realities: hypervigilance, chronic stress, and deportation fears: [10:28]
- Barriers to community and support for Black migrants: [12:23]
- Erasure of Black migrants from national immigration conversation: [17:32]
- ICE data and disproportional targeting: [19:06]
- Intersectional vulnerabilities (queer, trans, women): [21:11]
- Practical safety tactics/Know Your Rights: [24:00]
- Technology for safer organizing/communication: [37:44]
- Katherine’s message of hope and affirmation: [38:54]
How to Connect and Take Action
- Contact Katherine Laberon:
- katherinelaberon.com
- Social media: @caths_laberon
- Resource Organizations: Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Haitian Bridge Alliance, African Communities Together, UndocuBlack
- If you’re a service provider: Offer low-cost or holistic mental health services; partner with trusted organizations for safe referrals.
- For allies: Join Court Watch, volunteer for hotlines, write letters or petitions, and help disseminate news of ICE raids.
Final Thoughts
This episode offers a deeply personal and systemic look at how racist immigration enforcement harms Black migrants and their families. Katherine and Dr. Joy offer practical strategies and resources for safety, mental health, and advocacy, all grounded in collective resistance and care.
The takeaway is an urgent call to notice, support, and fight for Black migrant communities—amplify their stories, build resilient networks, and hold systems accountable.