Indian Americans raise immigration concerns in meeting with US lawmaker

• Indian American community members met Congressman Jim McGovern in Massachusetts on 19 September

• They raised immigration difficulties affecting students, families and healthcare professionals, but did not put forward specific policy proposals

• Participants called for sustained engagement with elected officials from both major US parties

Indian American community leaders raised concerns about immigration difficulties facing students, families and healthcare professionals during a meeting with US Congressman Jim McGovern in Massachusetts.

The gathering, held at the India Worcester Center in Shrewsbury on 19 September, brought together physicians, entrepreneurs, professionals and civic advocates. Participants discussed immigration alongside healthcare, economic opportunity, civic participation and relations between India and the United States.

A statement on the meeting did not identify specific immigration proposals. It said community members had drawn attention to the challenges people face while navigating the US immigration system.

The participants also called for Indian Americans across religions, generations and political viewpoints to have a stronger voice in public affairs. They urged community organisations to maintain direct contact with elected representatives from both major parties at federal, state and local levels.

McGovern, a Democrat, represents Massachusetts’ second congressional district in the US House of Representatives.

The discussion revisited the role of Indian American civic engagement in building bipartisan support for the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement. Ramesh Vishwanath Kapur, founder and president of the US India Security Council, said the campaign showed what cooperation across party lines could achieve for relations between the two countries.

Worcester city councillor-at-large Satya Mitra encouraged Indian Americans to participate actively in civic life and speak about the issues affecting them. He and fellow participant Sahdev Passey also praised McGovern’s accessibility to constituents, according to the statement.

Participants identified technology, trade, energy, healthcare, education, defence and innovation as areas where the community could contribute to closer India-US cooperation. They called for greater collaboration among organisations, business leaders, students and younger generations to build a lasting civic presence that could engage policymakers beyond election periods.

With IANS inputs