Abstract
In this essay, I document my COVID-19 quarantine experience in my home country of China. Due to changes to my U.S. immigration status, I had no choice but to leave for China during the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns, resulting in separation from my husband. I discuss how my quarantine experience is shaped by the ever-tightening U.S. immigration policies. For example, Trump’s executive order banning entry of certain foreign nationals has turned my temporary quarantine in China into an endless wait. This quarantine experience informed my reimagining of diaspora and immigration in the contemporary era. Specifically, I propose that we pay close attention to the transnational aesthetics as a productive way to offer insights into diaspora and immigration, particularly during a time of crisis.