SALDEF Hosts Sikh Awareness Night with the Golden State Warriors

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Have you bought your tickets yet for the “Sikh Awareness Night” with the Oakland Warriors?

Tickets are selling out fast, so please get your tickets now. TO SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT, CLICK HERE

California Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month is in November and the date selected for the game to commemorate the month is Monday, November 5th against the Memphis Grizzlies. The game starts at 7:30 pm! Come show your support for your team, your Sangat and you Sikhi!

Also, we are working with the Warriors and their administration to develop a Kirpan accommodation for attendees and are hopeful that will have this resolved by the game.   
We are excited to see you November 5th!

What are the requirements to sponsor an asylum seeker?

  • Sponsor must have current immigration status in the US (US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident)
  • Sponsor must have a fixed address where they can demonstrate they have resided for a significant period of time (over 1 year)
  • Sponsor must be able to provide asylum seeker with a safe, comfortable place to sleep
  • Sponsor must be able to provide asylum seeker with basic necessities (food, occasional transportation, items of clothing, etc.)
  • Sponsor must have financial means to support asylum seekers (see basic necessities)

 

What is the time commitment?

  • Sponsor is primarily responsible to receive the asylum seeker after they are released from detention
  • Sponsorship of an asylum seeker is an undefined period of time to be determined by the asylum seeker (if an adult) and the sponsor
  • Asylum seeker has the right to move at any time for any reason
  • Sponsor has the right to ask the asylum seeker to move out for any reason

 

What if the asylum seeker moves do I have to tell ICE?

  • It is the asylum seeker’s responsibility to inform ICE if they move
  • It is always best for the sponsor to assist the asylum seeker to inform ICE of any change of address

 

What if the asylum seeker doesn’t show up to court?

  • It is the responsibility of the asylum seeker to show up in court
  • It is a best practice for the sponsor to be well aware of all court hearings and make plans with the asylum seeker to be able to attend their hearings in court
  • If the asylum seeker does not show up in court, it is possible that ICE may come to the sponsor’s residence to inquire about the whereabouts of the asylum seeker
  • There is no repercussion for the sponsor if the asylum seeker does not show up in court

 

What if I change my mind after a few months?

  • The sponsor may ask the asylum seeker to move out at any point

 

What if I move?

  • If the sponsor moves it is a best practice for the sponsor to assist the asylum seeker in informing ICE and the immigration court of this change of address, which is best facilitated by a legal service provider experienced in asylum cases or immigration law

 

Does the asylum seeker have to live with me?

  • The sponsor agrees to receive the asylum seeker in their home after they are released from detention

 

Are they able to work?

  • It depends case by case
  • The asylum seeker should consult with an experienced immigration attorney and/or legal service provider that works with asylum cases

 

Can they travel outside of the state and if they do am I required to tell someone?

  • Yes, the asylum seeker can travel outside of the state, unless specifically stated in the custody determination with ICE and/or the immigration court
  • The sponsor is not required to tell anyone of the asylum seeker’s travel
  • The asylum seeker should always let their ICE office know if they intend to travel outside of the state (location and period of time)

 

If someone commits a crime or gets in trouble with ICE am I liable?

  • The sponsor is not liable if someone commits a crime unless they have participated in the crime or can be implicated in the crime
  • The sponsor is not liable if the asylum seeker violates the terms of their custody with ICE

 

Am I financially responsible for the asylum seeker?

  • The sponsor is not legally financially responsible for the asylum seeker, but SHOULD take responsibility for the asylum seeker’s basic necessities while they are living in their home (food, basic clothing, required transportation, etc.)

 

Do they have health insurance? If they get hurt what do I do?

  • Asylum seekers do not have health insurance
  • If they get hurt they should seek appropriate medical services within the collective means of the sponsor and asylum seeker

 

Can they get a driver’s license?

  • It depends case by case
  • The asylum seeker should consult with an experienced immigration attorney and/or legal service provider that works with asylum cases

 

SALDEF and SikhLEAD presentOn July 18th, SALDEF will be hosting our fifth annual Langar on the Hill at Capitol Hill organized by participants of our SikhLEAD Summer Internship Program!

The theme of this year’s Langar on the Hill is Unity Through Seva. We believe that our nation is stronger when we stand in solidarity, united with the diverse communities that make up our beautiful country. Past events have had over 500 attendees, and have featured members of the House and Senate, congressional staffers, heads of government agencies, and policy and community leaders in Washington, D.C.

Langar is a 500-year old Sikh tradition that aims to eradicate segregation. Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak, established langar as an institution that would remove barriers that marginalized certain communities within society. Langar asks everyone to sit side by side on the ground, regardless of caste, class, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion, and share a meal. By doing so, langar is a symbol of equality, diversity, community and unity.

This year, we plan to demonstrate unity and equality for all by giving back to the community through Langar. Attendees will be provided snacks while listening to speeches, and will then be asked to help make care packages for individuals in need. After the event is over, we will deliver these care packages to the House of Ruth.

Our SikhLEAD Summer ‘18 interns have been working hard to organize this incredibly important and engaging event.  Please considering supporting their efforts to ensure our Sikh American youth always have opportunities like this one. Visit this link to donate to SikhLEAD, and support Langar on the Hill.

Donate (1)

Please consider supporting this important work now by https://secure.everyaction.com/NkNalbMPxU6q-LRDz57JnA2making a 100% tax-deductible donation to support these young Sikh American interns  by clicking here or visiting www.saldef.org/donate. 

Spotlight

The SikhLEAD Summer 2018 Internships are underway! Each week we will share the story of one of our interns in the Spotlight and you can meet them and hear about their experience. This week we are spotlighting Kiran Kaur Ahluwalia. Kiran is interning in the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein from California. Here is what she had to say about her experience:

My name is Kiran Ahluwalia, I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I am studying International Relations at American University in Washington DC.

What is the most memorable experience from your internship?
The most memorable experience was getting to sit in on a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in the Hart Senate Building, regarding the FBI and James Comey and their involvement in the 2016 general election, according to the Office of the Inspector General report. The Inspector General and the Director of the FBI both gave testimony and answered questions from the committee. I saw both Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Kamala Harris give lines of questioning and it was simply an incredible moment knowing that history was being made. An election like the one 2016 was unprecedented as well as all investigations following it, and I felt so privileged to be in the room that day.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years, and how do you think this internship may help you get there?
In ten years, I hope to be practicing civil rights law ideally back in California. I have wanted to go to law school since I was 13, and I came to DC for the SikhLEAD program to work on the Hill and to better explore potential avenues I could take with a Juris Doctorate. I think it was absolutely worthwhile and I could definitely see myself returning to the Hill in the future.

What is your favorite television show?
The West Wing

Donate now by clicking here – and ensure Sikh American youths like Kiran Kaur Ahluwalia get the chance to become our next generation of leaders and change makers.

Today, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Trump Administration’s Muslim Travel Ban, in a 5-to-4 decision. This decision further advances the attack the Trump administration has on immigrant and minority communities. The hateful rhetoric and blanket statements that the administration has used when talking about specific groups of people will further create unnecessary bias against these communities.

SALDEF understands the implications of hateful rhetoric and the creation of policies meant to separate and stigmatize populations. It is important to push back on policies such as the Muslim Ban and the Zero Tolerance policy to ensure we live up to the ideals laid out in the US Constitution.

This country was built on diversity and we have always been an amalgamation of immigrants from across the world.  We must continue to uphold high standards of diversity and inclusivity to ensure a brighter future for our children.

We call upon Congress to act and pass legislation to rescind the Muslim Ban and rebuke any attempts to target Muslims, or anyone on the basis of national origin, faith or background.

SALDEF’s 8th annual SikhLEAD Internship Program is proud to introduce our 20 new interns! This year we’ve placed ten college students across Capitol Hill, in Federal Agencies and non-profit organizations through our Washington DC National Internship Program.  We are also excited to announce a huge expansion our SikhLEAD New Jersey Internship Program. This year we are placing 10 New Jersey high school and university students in New Jersey, at state government and non-profit positions.

These internships provide students with skills that are essential for becoming community leaders that can foster social change. From Senators, to Representatives, to Assemblymen—the offices that the SikhLEAD interns will be working in will give Sikh American youth the opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience, while the offices themselves get to engage, interact, and learn about the Sikh religion and culture.

Welcome the 2018 Washington D.C. SikhLEAD Interns

Raj Karan Ghambir – Congressman Ami Bera
Navpreet Kaur Brar – Faith in Public Life
Manmohan Kaur Dhawan – Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote
Hakikat Bains – Congressman Adam Smith
Mailika Machra – Congressman Hank Johnson
Simrinjit Seehra – Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership
Anmohl Purewal – Senator Dianne Feinstein
Vinamarata Kaur – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Mehr Suri – Senator Cory Booker
Kiran Ahluwalia – Senator Dianne Feinstein

Welcome the 2018 New Jersey SikhLEAD Interns                        Not Pictured are Gurdeep Mangat and Apaar Singh Anand.

Amritpreet Kaur Dhesi – Assmeb. Craig J. Coughlin
Suhail Singh Gurm – Senator James W. Holzapfel
Ameek Kaur Bhindra – SALDEF New Jersey
Gurmehar Kaur – One Project
Harleen Kaur – Sikh American Veteran Alliance
Simran Bhathal – Assemb. Daniel R. Benson
Kimran Sandu – Assemb. Daniel R. Benson
Kabir Suri – NJ Department of Health
Gurdeep Mangat – Governor Phil Murphy
Apaar Singh Anand – Senator Cory Booker NJ Office

SikhLEAD Summer Internship is a great program that provides a safe area to share ideas, work in collaboration with teammates and other interns, and become a next generation leader. Congratulations to our twenty selected interns, we hope you have an inspiring and fulfilling experience. Welcome to SikhLEAD!

This program was funded through generous support of sangat and community members across the country and our sponsors Comcast and Ik Manzil.

Please support these youth and play a part in the success of our younger generation by making a 100% tax-deductible donation at www.saldef.org/donate on your computer or mobile device now. It takes only 45 seconds and it is secure!

The Sikh American PSA created by SALDEF in 2014 has been airing for the past 2 weeks on Comcast networks across the nation. This is the 5th consecutive year that SALDEF in collaboration with Comcast has aired the PSA.

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

This year we have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback by both Sikhs and non-Sikhs! Read what some of our Twitter followers had to say!

Get involved by amplifying this Sikh American message by sharing it with your family, friends, and neighbors! Here is how you can share:

  1. Post it on Facebook and Twitter and tag @SALDEF
  2. Post a screenshot on Instagram and tag @SikhAmericans

These efforts would not be possible without support from our community.

Please make a 100% tax-deductible donation to support SALDEF so we can continue to educate our nation about our values and make a real and meaningful impact on the perception of Sikhs in America.

An investment in us is an investment in our efforts to create meaningful partnerships with organizations that contribute to our community without cost.

**Please Share this Announcement on Email, Social Media, and Please Post at your Local Gurdwara**

The first ever Sikh American public service announcement will be airing again throughout the month of June. The message conveying Sikh values, and Sikh American lives will be played throughout the month on national airwaves. 

As apart of a collaboration between SALDEF and Comcast, the PSA first debuted on cable air in 2013. The message features Sikh American Actor and Designer, Waris Singh Ahluwalia, while also incorporating pictures and videos from other Sikh Americans around the country.

Thanks to the efforts by Comcast to educate their audiences on a variety of issues, the PSA will receive approximately a million dollars worth of airtime this summer. This will be the fifth year that the PSA is airing, so don’t forget to be on the lookout!

Get involved by amplifying this Sikh American message by sharing it with your family, friends, and neighbors! Here is how you can share:

The SALDEF team is incredibly thankful to Comcast for their ongoing support to create awareness about diverse communities by continuing to broadcast the Sikh American PSA. Comcast, a global media and technology company, aired this PSA as part of the company’s commitment to educate audiences on a variety of issues. Of note, this PSA was produced, developed, and aired with absolutely zero money from the Sikh American community.

Highlights of past coverage include: MSNBC Coverage, BBC: Video coverage, Identities Mic, PBS: TV news segment, Fast Company, Center for Asian American Media, The Huffington Post, The Aerogram

This past Memorial Day Weekend several Sikh organizations including Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Seva Foundation, Ghadar Memorial Foundation, SAVA, and SikhLens, along with the local Sikh community organized a program in celebration of Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind’s service and activism.

The event took place prior to the Portland Oregon Memorial Day Parade. LTC Kamal Singh Kalsi and Johanna Ogden spoke about history and service. The program included elements of film, music, dance, and discussion.

After the event attendees went to the Portland Oregon Memorial Day Parade were the Sikh community created a float in honor of Sikhs in Service.

SALDEF would like to thank and congratulate our Regional Director Sathanuman Singh for organizing this important event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that 96 people are killed each day by guns? This past weekend was Wear Orange weekend which brings to light the growing issue of gun violence. Why orange? Orange is the color hunters wear to make sure that they don’t get shot in the woods.

SALDEF in conjunction with Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action hosted events across the DC Metro area this past weekend to highlight the increase in Gun Violence, honor the victims and their families, and to bring awareness to our community.

On Saturday morning SALDEF Executive Director Baldev Singh gave an Ardas in Baltimore MD, this event was attended by many survivors of gun violence. The morning rain did not keep the attendees away and instead added to the overwhelming emotion felt by everyone. Saturday evening Mr. Singh gave another Ardas in Alexandria VA. This event was attended by many people from the region.

Sunday afternoon SALDEF hosted a Wear Orange at the Raj Khalsa Gurdwara, the event included speakers from Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Vishavjit Singh it was followed by an activity for kids and snacks.

To learn more about gun violence visit: https://everytownresearch.org/gun-violence-by-the-numbers/

#wearorange #SALDEF #orange #gunviolence