The State of the Lunch Truck in 2012 (2/3)

Gofran is not supposed to be here. In fact, the man helming one of many anonymous aluminum lunch trucks outside of Suburban Station was nearly expelled from the country not long ago. But for now, wearing a clean white shirt and an upturned Bluetooth, the Pakistan-native but longtime U.S. resident is simply filling in for his brother at the truck.

Once his suspicions of FBI involvement were assuaged, Gofran –or “Pac-Man,” as he is called by his friends, though he was adamant about keeping his surname a secret– admitted “We used to have double the business. It’s nothing now.”

“The government really did me wrong,” he said, musing over the condition of the business. The statement has a larger allusion, however, as Gofran says he was detained for 2 years on a misdemeanor by Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

His 2 years in ICE custody have greatly informed his opinions on the economy. He believes that the economic downturn of the past four years have resulted in a greater hostility towards immigrants.

“I been here my whole life,” said Gofran, “and then things get tough, and they want to kick me out.” Being sent back to his home town in Swat Valley, Pakistan was not in the cards for Gofran, who was eventually released.

But Gofran is looking past this, towards the future. He is not unmarketable, speaking not only English and Pakistani, but Hindi, Urdu, Pashtun, and is conversant in Cambodian. He hopes to attend Temple University next fall, but he'll still fill in for his brother now and then.