Immigration systems shape the experiences of many South Asian Americans, yet the policies governing visas, residency, and citizenship are often complex and difficult to navigate. Through research, public education, and policy analysis, SAAPRI works to make immigration systems more transparent and accessible for South Asian communities.

Our immigration work examines how federal immigration policies affect South Asians in America across different pathways, including students, skilled workers, permanent residents, and naturalized citizens. By translating complex policy developments into accessible information and highlighting community-specific data, SAAPRI aims to strengthen policy literacy and support informed advocacy.

This work also identifies structural barriers within immigration systems, including policy changes, administrative delays, and limited access to reliable information. By documenting these challenges and sharing them through research and public education initiatives, SAAPRI contributes to broader conversations on immigration reform and community empowerment.

Since its founding, SAAPRI has played a leading role in addressing discrimination and bias affecting South Asian Americans. Hate incidents targeting South Asians often involve religious discrimination, ethnic conflation, and xenophobia, particularly toward Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu communities.

Through its Against Hate initiative, SAAPRI conducts research, policy advocacy, and coalition-building to better understand and respond to hate crimes and bias incidents affecting South Asian Americans.

A major challenge in addressing hate crimes is the lack of reliable data and underreporting. Language barriers, limited awareness of reporting mechanisms, and mistrust of institutions often prevent victims from reporting incidents. SAAPRI’s research seeks to better document these patterns and advocate for stronger systems of reporting, prevention, and community support.

Access to justice also requires recognizing and preserving the histories of communities that have often been overlooked in traditional narratives. SAAPRI’s Oral History initiative works to document the stories, migration journeys, and lived experiences of South Asian Americans across generations. By collecting and preserving these narratives, the project ensures that the voices and contributions of South Asian communities are recorded and accessible for future generations.

This work is closely connected to the passage of Illinois’ Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act, which requires public schools in Illinois to include Asian American history in their curriculum. SAAPRI was among the community organizations that supported advocacy efforts to advance this legislation, recognizing the importance of ensuring that Asian American histories are formally taught in classrooms.

Preserving community histories and integrating them into education plays an important role in combating prejudice and discrimination. When students learn about the experiences, contributions, and struggles of Asian American communities, including South Asian Americans, it helps challenge stereotypes, address misinformation, and foster greater understanding across communities.

Through both the Oral History project and support for initiatives like the TEAACH Act, SAAPRI works to ensure that South Asian American histories are documented, shared, and taught, strengthening community visibility while helping build a more informed and inclusive society.

With permission from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), SAAPRI has adapted their nationally recognized Know Your Rights Red Cards by translating them into 10 South Asian languages, including Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The red cards give examples of how people can exercise these rights. However, they do not provide individualized legal advice. Community members are encouraged to check in with a trusted legal service provider for questions about their situation.

These wallet-sized cards provide critical guidance for what to do when approached by immigration or law enforcement officers. One side is written in the community member’s native language while the other side remains in English which is to be handed to officers in real-time situations.