Exile in Life and Death

The plight of Edwidge Danticat's uncle Joseph provides perhaps the most compelling example of exile that we have seen so far. Due to political instability leading to threatening conditions in Haiti, the 81 year old man is more or less forced out of his homeland for his own safety. What he finds in America is clearly no safe haven. He is treated like an unwanted refugee at the detention center he arrived at. When he becomes sick, he is accused of faking his illness, and is not given proper medical attention. His family is not allowed to visit him, and he ultimately dies alone. It is a depressing tale of exile: being forced out of the only home you know in search of safety, only to be practically left for dead.
Even in death, Joseph can be viewed as being in a state of exile. Rather than being buried in Haiti with his wife, his body is buried in Queens. Exile transcends livelihood; one must wonder if Joseph's spirit can truly be at peace when he remains locked out of his own home.