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North The Indian Eye

AmERIcANnewsline

16 AUGUST 06, 2021

ImmIgratIon reform

Joe Biden and Kamala harris pledge

to work with asian americans

Several top Indian-American leaders attend the meeting

Our Bureau
Washington, DC

resident Joe Biden and
Vice President Kamala
PHarris have pledged to
work with the Asian American,
Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander (AA & NHPI) com-
munity on immigration reform.
The pledge was made during a
meeting Thursday with 13 AA
& NHPI leaders, including four
Indian American community
leaders, “representing the rich
diversity of the AA & NHPI
communities.”
Biden and Harris “restated
their support for a pathway to
citizenship for Dreamers, farm
workers, TPS (Temporary Pro-
tected Status) holders, and es-
sential workers through budget
reconciliation,” according to a that claimed 8 lives including six agency,” he remarked. “And this utive Director, Sikh Coalition
White House readout. Asian women, Biden said, “Ka- group’s input has been critical and Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive
“The conversation focused mala and I traveled to Atlan- and continues to be critical to Director, Sikh American Legal
on the importance of combat- ta, met with a group — some that approach.” Defense and Education Fund.
ing the rise in anti-Asian hate of whom are here — of Asian Executive director of Indian Meanwhile, Biden’s press
crimes, economic opportunity, American leaders.” American Impact, Neil Makhija, secretary Jen Psaki indicated
commitment to equity, protect- “And creating millions of said later that he “raised issues that his plans for a pathway to
ing the sacred right to vote, and good-paying jobs in every com- of immigration, voting rights citizenship to Dreamers and
immigration reform,” it said. munity, including the AA & and specifically green card back- others through the budget pro-
Biden and Harris “reiterated NHPI community and deliver- log in context of explaining how cess did not cover the several
their promise to work together ing affordable childcare, paid country caps are remnants of ex- thousands of Indian children
to ensure the needs of the dias- leave, universal pre-K, as well as clusionary laws in the past, par- who came to the US legally but
pora of the AA & NHPI com- community college,” he said. ticularly enacted in the 20s.” go out of status on turning 21.
munities are heard, uplifted and The President acknowledged Biden has an “acute aware- “It’s not in the current, I think
met,” the White House said. that “there is work to do on im- ness of the unfairness in the sys- it’s not in the current discussions,
They also “acknowledged the migration; there’s work to do on tem,” he added. but it is something the President
AA & NHPI community record voting rights and so much more.” Other Indian American lead- would like to address,” she told
turnout in civic engagement and “On my first day in office, I ers attending the meeting were: reporters in response to a ques-
vowed to continue working to signed an executive order to Seema Agnani, Executive Di- tion. It is something that Biden
strengthen our democracy and advance racial equity and a rector, National Coalition for “has proposed addressing in a
the protection of voting rights.” whole-of-government approach Asian Pacific American Com- comprehensive immigration
After the March 16, 2021 to address inequities and in- munity Development (National bill”, and supports giving these
shooting in the Atlanta area justice in America from every CAPACD), Satjeet Kaur, Exec- children protection, she added.

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