i’m’migrant

i’m’migrant is a sharp, funny, and deeply human 20‑minute performance that blends political satire with projected video to confront one of the most urgent questions in America today: Who gets to belong?

Immigration to the United States—once a lifeline for those seeking refuge—has increasingly become a privilege reserved for people with resources, legal support, and time to navigate an ever‑tightening system. Yet this wasn’t always the case. Until the 1920s, countless newcomers arrived at Ellis Island with nothing but hope, and still found a path to citizenship. The bar was lower, the door wider, and the promise of America more accessible.

As a legal immigrant from Japan who later became a U.S. citizen through marriage, I carry these contradictions in my own story. I respect the law and understand its complexities, but I also believe that every person—regardless of circumstance—deserves dignity, compassion, and the chance to build a life. Laws shift with political winds; human needs do not. Across history, societies have wrestled with oppression, poverty, and inequality. The United States once stood as a destination for those who needed safety the most. Immigrants built this country. Will that legacy be allowed to continue?

i’m’migrant uses humor, satire, and vulnerability to illuminate these tensions. It invites audiences to laugh, question, and remember what America has been—and imagine what it could still be.

The work has been performed at Atrium Artspace and Normal’s Book & Records, engaging audiences with its mix of wit, critique, and heartfelt storytelling.