White House officials at the briefing and at the Welcome Dinner. From l. to r. WHIAANHPI Executive Director Kristal Ka’ai; Special Advisor for Public Engagement Kota Mizutani; President Biden’s Deputy Assistant Erika Moritsugu presenting a message from President Biden at the Welcome Dinner, Front Row from l. to r. Ramya Ramakrishnan of HAF, AAUC President Angela Anand, WH Deputy Assistant Moritsugu, AAUC Board Chair Dr. S.K. Lo, Marsha Golangco of APAPA, AAUC VP Yen Marshal and CEO of My Sister’ / GOPIO

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) co-hosted the 2024 National AANHPI Unity Summit, held from September 19-20 at the U.S. Capitol, alongside the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) and eight other local and national Asian American organizations. 

The summit served as a platform for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities to discuss and collaborate on key issues affecting their populations.

The two-day summit began on September 19 with a White House briefing attended by 70 delegates. Kristal Ka’ai, executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), opened the event with remarks on the administration's efforts to engage with these communities.

Special advisor to public engagement Kota Mizutani and AAUC president Angela Anand also addressed the attendees, alongside representatives from co-hosting organizations. Topics such as immigration, education initiatives, violence against Asian Americans, and discrimination were highlighted.

GOPIO chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham spoke at the briefing, emphasizing the urgent need to address the Green Card backlog faced by millions of immigrants, particularly Indian nationals. "Of the 2 million immigrants waiting, 1.2 million are Indians," Dr. Abraham noted. He urged the Biden administration to take immediate executive action to alleviate the backlog and prevent families from facing deportation while awaiting legislative solutions.

Key proposals included removing the “Compelling Circumstances” clause for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and ensuring that the age of dependent children is locked when the initial immigrant petition is approved. Dr. Abraham also suggested premium fees for EAD processing to accelerate USCIS infrastructure improvements.

In the evening, attendees gathered for a Welcome Dinner, where Erika Moritsugu, deputy assistant to President Biden, delivered a message from the president. In his remarks, President Biden praised the contributions of the AANHPI communities to the nation's history and future.

In his message President Joe Biden wrote, “America has a heart and soul that draw from old and new. We all come from somewhere, but we’re all Americans. And since our nation was founded, our spirit has been enriched by the immense contributions and diverse cultures of the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities - and that includes those attending the 2024 National Unity Summit.”

“By elevating AA and NHPI voices, encouraging civic engagement and advocating for the issues that matter most to your communities, each one of you demonstrates a commitment to our country that continues to propel our great American experiment ever forward,” he added.

 “People like you and events like this are a big part of the reason why I have been never more optimistic about the future of this nation. As you gather for the 2024 National Unity Summit, I hope you are filled with pride not only in the remarkable achievements of those around you but also of AA and NHPI people all across America,” President Biden continued.

Group of people standing infront of a podium. / GOPIO

The summit continued on September 20 with meetings between AAUC delegates and Congressional officials, during which topics such as racial discrimination, civil rights, hate crime prevention, immigration, and the inclusion of Asian American history in education were discussed. Representatives from 27 states participated.

The event also saw the launch of the mobile-responsive AAPI Community Hub, a platform designed to connect AANHPI communities and resources nationwide.

One of the summit's key moments came when Sathyanarayan Krishnamurthy, an Indian national stuck in the Green Card backlog, shared his experience. Despite living in the U.S. for decades, Krishnamurthy and his family face an uncertain future due to the 7 percent per-country cap on Green Cards. He highlighted the plight of over half a million children who risk ageing out and potentially self-deporting due to these delays.

Krishnamurthy called for bipartisan support for the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act (HR6542) and its Senate counterpart, the Eagle Act (S3291), which seek to eliminate country caps over the next decade, ensuring fair treatment for immigrants from all nations.

The summit concluded with the presentation of a resolution on Alien Land Laws and further discussions on advancing AANHPI community interests through the newly launched AAPI Community Hub.