JJ PEREZ

JJ Perez is a designer and photographer based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is currently a videographer and editor at 5 News KFSM. His initial interest for photography began through skateboarding editorials and advertising, which eventually sparked his interest in design as well. JJ believes that photography and design hand-in-hand can create a solution for the betterment of people in ways we cannot initially imagine. JJ came to the US from Mexico as an immigrant back in 2006. His perspective within the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas inspired him to come up with a solution for his fellow community members who struggle every day due to their documentation status

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“FRANKLY, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS DESERVE PEACE OF MIND.”

Being an outsider to a community you just arrived to can be pretty intimidating. Especially if the community you came from spoke another language, had different cultural aspects, and didn’t consider you as a foreigner. Unfortunately, many undocumented immigrants have experienced the opposite of the factors mentioned earlier, as every day in a new country has its share of stresses. However out of many woes, one brings the most worry; The fear of getting detained by law enforcement to then begin the process of deportation. Due to the severeness of deportation, many sufferers simply stop living their lives and constantly hide in shadows due to their lack of documentation, and that is where ImmiGuide comes in.

ImmiGuide is a physical booklet written in English and Spanish focusing on how to help undocumented people and their families with many aspects of deportation. From community leaders, DACA holders, and undocumented sufferers, ImmiGuide’s research is based on many testimonies from a range of individuals within the Hispanic community. From procedural information on what to do when pulled over and detained, to what to do if your family member has been detained. Besides informational procedures, the booklet has a professional contact section for attorneys, food & shelter, consulates, and other essential information. The book’s size and carrying style were created in order to make the amount of information more digestible as well as openly visible in a car, so as not to cause suspicion from law enforcement. With ImmiGuide, we hope to give undocumented folks the peace of mind they truly deserve.