Center for Immigration Studies
Indian Researcher Starts Non-profit to Serve South Asian Community in Minneapolis
Raj ChaudharyCEO, SEWA-AIFW When Raj Chaudhary moved to Minneapolis in 1968 to become a cancer researcher at the University of Minnesota, she felt like a pioneer. At that time, the Twin Cities’ Indian community was small. And as it grew, newcomers would frequently tap earlier arrivals like Chaudhary and her husband… Read More
Somalian Refugee Launches Interpretation Company in Minneapolis
Khadija AliCEO, Global Language Connections Former child refugee Khadija Ali is a natural advocate. “I believe everyone has a voice,” she says. “And I didn’t want a language barrier to be a deterrent for anyone’s well-being, which is what happened to my family members.” Ali came to America at… Read More
Argentinian Cook Starts Food Business in Minneapolis
Belén Rodríguez Owner and Creator of Quebracho Empanadas When Belén Rodríguez moved from Argentina to Minneapolis with her American husband in 2012, she quickly developed an international social circle. She worked as a Spanish interpreter at Hennepin Healthcare, where her colleagues all over the world spoke 130 languages. “From Somalia to Russia,… Read More
Italian Immigrant Becomes Owner of Auto Body Shop in New Jersey
Mario TommolilloOwner, Mario’s Classic Auto Body of Paterson On the morning that Mario Tommolillo arrived in the United States from Italy, his parents woke him up at 5 a.m. to see the Statue of Liberty. It was 1967, and the family entered New York harbor on the SS United… Read More
Jordanian Immigrant Establishes Printing Company in New Jersey
Alia SuqiOwner, Nextwave Web Growing up in Jordan as one of 14 siblings, Alia Suqi always knew she’d have to work hard to find her own way. Her parents were supportive, but there weren’t many opportunities for a young woman in Jordan — so after finishing high school in… Read More
Open Call for Bridging Communities Projects
THE OPEN CALL IS NOW CLOSED. APPLICANTS WILL HEAR BACK FROM US IN APRIL 2022. If you’re building bridges in community, we want to hear from you! The Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council is issuing a Call for Bridging Communities Projects to crowdsource the… Read More
Chinese Immigrant Establishes Law Firm in Cleveland
Su HeBusiness Immigration Attorney, Professor, and Community Leader Su He came from a family of physicians in Beijing, China, so when she developed a passion for international business law, she needed to find new role models. Fortunately, she found the support she needed at Case Western Reserve University School… Read More
Indian Immigrant Founds B2B Software Firm in Cleveland
Sudhir AcharTechnology and Community Leader In 1991, Sudhir Achar emigrated from Bangalore, India to pursue his master’s degree in industrial engineering at Cleveland State University. Between classes, he worked as an international student ambassador, helping newcomers integrate. After graduation, he was hired by Philips Medical Systems (PMS), where he… Read More
Lawsuit Seeks Answers to Privacy and Data Risks Associated with the CBP One App
The American Immigration Council filed a FOIA lawsuit against CBP requesting information about the agency’s implementation of CBP One— an app designed to help process individuals entering the United States including asylum seekers—that has raised concerns among immigration and privacy advocates. Read More
ICE Continues to Ignore FOIA Request for Reports on Enforcement Activities and Removals
Immigration advocacy groups filed a FOIA lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting ICE’s internal reports on enforcement activities and removals under the Biden-Harris administration’s interim enforcement priorities. Read More
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