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Strengthening South Asian Communities in the United States

Tell Us Your Immigration Story

SAY IT LOUD: South Asians Share Stories for Immigration Reform
This is about you. Your family. Your story. Your experience.
We need to put names, faces, and stories to the immigration reform debate and we need your help!

This spring, as Congress and the Administration debate immigration reform, SAALT will be collecting video testimonials of immigration struggles and challenges to show how our broken immigration system affects South Asian individuals and families. The US immigration system can be fixed and SAALT is working to effect policy change on a national level. Your stories and experiences with the immigration system can be powerful tools to lend support to immigration reform. Call for immigration reform by answering a simple question:

Why do you believe that the US immigration system needs to change?

Get Involved: Share Your Story!
Take a short video clip of yourself telling your story and send it to SAALT. Click HERE for a few examples.
 
Step 1: Think about how you would answer this question: "Why do you believe that the US immigration system needs to change?"  Do you have stories from your own immigration experience or those of your family or people you have encountered in your community, etc etc.  See below for guiding questions:
  • Have you experienced a problem with the US immigration system and/or immigration lawyers?
  • Have you been separated from your family because of immigration laws or know someone who has?
  • Do your family members have mixed immigration statuses and does this cause any issues?
  • Have you been exploited in your workplace because of your immigration status?
  • Do you know of any stories that highlight the strength of immigrants through the power and solidarity of organizing and advocacy?
Please include this statement at the end of your video: "I am asking Congress and President Obama to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year!"

Step 2: Use a digital camera or video camera to record yourself sharing your answer (no longer than 2 minutes). Please remember to include the above statement at the end of your clip.

Step 3: Upload your video clip: Click here for instructions on uploading and submitting the video clip.
 
For technical assistance please email Aparna (aparna@saalt.org) or call 301.270.1855
Get Involved: Apply to be a Community Storyteller!
Document your community's story by filming people's responses to this question: "Why do you believe the US immigration system needs to change?". We are looking for Community Storytellers from around the US to collect these video clips.


Applications are due February 15th. If selected, SAALT will provide an online training as well as a small stipend. The approximate time frame for this project is February 15th - March 31st.
 
Community Storytellers will be responsible for:
  • Collecting and uploading 10 clips of individual community members\
  • Researching and filming a Feature story which highlights organizations in your community that are working with immigrants
Learn More About Immigration

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