SAAPRI would like to thank Dhara Puvar for her years of service as Executive Director of SAAPRI. We are grateful for her years of service and appreciate all the work she has done as the Executive Director of SAAPRI. We would also like to…
Report – Defying Dependence: Impacts of H-4 Authorization Policy on Immigrant Women, Families, and Communities
On February 20th, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a proposal to remove “H-4 dependent spouses from the class of aliens eligible for employment authorization,” which has been under review for months with an uncertain decision date. Rescinding…
2019 Illinois Municipal Elections
On April 2nd, 2019, there were hundreds of municipal elections taking place across Illinois with elections for mayor, city councils, treasurers, clerks, village boards of trustees, and more. Here is everything you need to know about SAAPRI’s civic engagement work: Phone Banking…
Statement on Terror Attack at New Zealand Mosques & Chicago Peace Vigil
On March 15th, 2019, many of us woke up to news of a horrific attack on Muslim worshippers at the Linwood Mosque & Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. This act of terror resulted in the murder of at least 49 people and 20…
SAAPRI’s Co-Founder and Board Chair Ann Kalayil discusses Trump’s plans in News India Times
On February 5th, 2019, President Trump delivered his State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress, to which SAAPRI’s Co-Founder and Board Chair Ann Kalayil responded in the News India Times. The whole crux of the speech and action…
Statement on 2019 Elections for South Asians
The new year brings in a new era of South Asian political leadership in Illinois. SAAPRI shares the latest data on our local communities and opportunities for representation in upcoming municipal elections below. On January 5th, 2019, Ram Villivalam (D)…
Statement on the the 2018 Midterms
THE 2018 MIDTERMS AND BEYOND: HISTORIC ELECTION AND CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT The 2018 midterm elections marked a historic moment for the South Asian community in Illinois as Ram Villivalam (D) became the first South Asian American to be elected to the…
Statement on the 2018 World Hindu Congress
From September 7th through September 9th, 2018, the second annual World Hindu Congress (WHC) convened in Chicagoland. WHC 2018 states its purpose as a global platform for Hindus to connect and impact the common good. However, there have been troubling…
Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 – signed into law on October 3th, 1965 and effective on June 30th, 1968 – was a watershed piece of immigration legislation that has had tremendous impact on the country and especially the…
2018 Statement on Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy
OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AT RISK: BORDER POLICY, MUSLIM BAN, AND A BROKEN SYSTEM The Trump administration’s attack on immigrants and families has continued in devastating and cruel ways. In April 2018, the administration implemented its “zero-tolerance policy” for migrants crossing…