I not too long ago wrote the Foreword for Unshackled, a brand new guide co-authored by Soundarya Basubramani, a author from India, and Sameer Khedekar, a veteran immigration lawyer. Unshackled breaks down how authorized immigration works in America in a means that’s pleasant, accessible, and human. It’s crammed with uncooked tales of high-skilled immigrants who walked unconventional paths and actionable steering to navigate these paths.
Final August, Rajesh Setty despatched me an e-mail request from Soundarya when the guide was simply an concept. Soundarya shared her imaginative and prescient for the guide and why she needed to put in writing it. Unsurprisingly, the motivation stemmed from private frustrations with the immigration system within the U.S.
Authorized immigration, particularly for high-skilled immigrants, has been essential to me for over a decade. I used to be deeply concerned with the Startup Visa motion again in 2010. When that finally failed, I started supporting a number of grassroots actions just like the GEiR program, invested in corporations based by immigrants, am an investor and board member of Boundless, an early LP in Unshackled Ventures (unrelated to this guide), and even grew to become the manager producer of a film known as For Right here Or To Go. Unshackled appeared one other step in the best path.
I met with Soundarya and Sameer on a video name in late August. Their pitch had promise, and I inspired them t arrange a crowdfunding marketing campaign. They did this, and I used to be considered one of 612 individuals who supported the marketing campaign, which raised $48,340. Quickly after the marketing campaign ended, Soundarya acquired a $50,000 grant from Emergent Ventures for the mission.
Soundarya stored me up to date, and I acquired the unpublished manuscript for Unshacked 5 months later. I learn it over one weekend, and I liked it. The guide didn’t really feel like a authorized information. Soundarya and Sameer managed to interrupt down how authorized immigration labored in easy and fascinating language whereas capturing the uncooked feelings within the firsthand tales of immigrants. Having seen the guide come to life from a mere concept simply 9 months in the past, I agreed to put in writing the foreword.
Lower than a yr from its inception, Soundarya and Sameer are internet hosting a grand occasion to launch their guide on July twenty second, 2023, in Sunnyvale, CA. Whereas I can not attend the occasion, I hope you may make it and help a worthy mission. Doug Rand, who at present serves as an advisor to the Director of USCIS, is about to be there for a hearth chat on the previous and way forward for immigration coverage.
Soundarya and Sameer – congratulations on publishing this essential guide. And, Rajesh, thanks for connecting us.
