Christina S. Zhu

Locked Up: Stories from Immigration Detention

In Editorial, GENERAL, ILLUSTRATION

I was approached by PICUM (Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants) to work on illustrations for a booklet about immigration detention centers. The images visualise stories of people who have experienced the practices in these facilities across Europe.

I focused on the description of the psychological effect the experience had on the detainees. It was of utmost importance to me to treat the stories with sensibility and respect.

Thanks to M. Solé and C. Bouvier for this opportunity!

Yassin, detained in the Netherlands, says: “ You see the same people there every day, the same stress, the same questions. When will you get out? How long will you be there? When are you going to court? Will they extend your permit?”
Armando, detained in the Netherlands, says: “ If you’ve been in immigration detention for a long time and you don’t get the medical treatment you need, your medical problems will only worsen. Before being detained, my psychological problems were under control. But now I’m back to square one.“

Noel, detained in Belgium, says: “I heard so many stories of bad treatment. Stories from people who fled inhumane governments and persecution, only to find another inhumane government here.“

31. January 2023

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